Effect of activator mix on the hydration and strength behaviour of alkali-activated slag cements

TLDR: In this article, the authors examined the setting time and mechanical strength behavior of slag cement pastes activated with different alkaline activators and showed that the initial pH of the alkaline solution plays an important role in the initial slag dissolution.

Abstract: This paper examines on the setting time and mechanical strength behaviour of slag cement pastes activated with different alkaline activators. For this purpose three alkaline solutions were used: waterglass solution (27% SiO2, 18 % Na2O and 55% H2O), NaOH and Na2CO3, maintaining always a constant concentration of Na2O (4% by mass of slag). The solutions were prepared with mixes of 0%, 80%/20% and 20%/80%. The activation process was studied at early ages by conduction calorimetric and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results show that the initial pH of the alkaline solution plays an important role in the initial slag dissolution. However the factor playing a decisive role in the acceleration or delay of setting times and in the development of mechanical strengths is the nature of the anion present in the solution. SiO4 2− ions act as an accelerator of the setting time, but CO3 2− ions delay the setting time.