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Density and water content of nanoscale solid C-S-H formed in alkali-activated slag (AAS) paste and implications for chemical shrinkage

Published

Author(s)

Andrew J. Allen, Jeffrey J. Thomas, Hamlin M. Jennings

Abstract

Alkali-activated slag (AAS) paste was analyzed using small-angle neutron scattering. The scattering response indicates that the microstructure consists of a uniform matrix of hydration product with a high surface area studded with unhydrated cores of slag particles. In contrast with portland cement paste, no surface fractal scattering regime was detected, and elevated temperature curing (at 60 deg C) had no detectable effect on the microstructure at any length scale. The specic surface area of the AAS pastes is about 25% higher than that of a portland cement paste cured under the same conditions. The composition and mass density of the nanoscale solid C-S-H phase formed in the AAS paste was determined using a previously developed neutron scattering method, in conjunction with a hydration model. The result ((CaO)0.99 - SiO2(Al2O3)0.06 - (H2O)0.97, d = 2.73 g/cm3) is signicantly lower in calcium and in water as compared to portland cement or pure tricalcium silicate paste. These values were used to calculate the chemical shrinkage that would result from complete hydration of the AAS paste. The result, 6.9 cm3 of volumetric shrinkage per 100 g of unhydrated cement, is similar to the amount of chemical shrinkage exhibited by normal cement pastes, and is only about half that of previously published estimates for AAS paste. This indicates that the greater drying shrinkage, autogeneous shrinkage, and cracking tendency of AAS pastes is related to their pore size distribution rather than to greater chemical shrinkage.
Citation
Cement and Concrete Research
Volume
42
Pub Type
Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

microstructure characterization, alkali activated cement, calcium silicate hydrate gel, cement shrinkage, small angle neutron scattering, nanoscale interactions
Neutron research, Materials, Chemistry and Building materials

Citation

Allen, A. , Thomas, J. and Jennings, H. (2012), Density and water content of nanoscale solid C-S-H formed in alkali-activated slag (AAS) paste and implications for chemical shrinkage, Cement and Concrete Research, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.11.003 (Accessed December 14, 2024)

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Created January 1, 2012, Updated October 21, 2022