Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes

This study evaluates the reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, and microstructure evolution of Na2SO4-activated slag cements produced with three commercial slags. The main reaction products identified are ettringite and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, alongside a poorly crystalline SO42- intercalat...

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Main Authors: Zengliang Yue, Yuvaraj Dhandapani, Samuel Adu-Amankwah, Susan A. Bernal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Cement
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666549224000264
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author Zengliang Yue
Yuvaraj Dhandapani
Samuel Adu-Amankwah
Susan A. Bernal
author_facet Zengliang Yue
Yuvaraj Dhandapani
Samuel Adu-Amankwah
Susan A. Bernal
author_sort Zengliang Yue
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates the reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, and microstructure evolution of Na2SO4-activated slag cements produced with three commercial slags. The main reaction products identified are ettringite and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, alongside a poorly crystalline SO42- intercalated Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase. Results revealed that the Al2O3 slag content alone does not correlate with the cement performance. While pastes made with a higher Al2O3 content slag exhibit faster reaction kinetics, those made with a slag with a higher Mg/Al ratio developed superior compressive strength and reduced porosity over extended curing periods. Thermodynamic modelling simulations indicate that sulfate consumption occurs via ettringite and LDH phase formation, influencing the slag reaction degree, pH value, and porosity reduction in these cements. This research highlights the critical role of slag composition in controlling microstructure and, consequently, performance of sodium sulfate activated slag cement pastes.
format Article
id doaj-art-41f81e25112a4b9f8b784b83713dc84d
institution OA Journals
issn 2666-5492
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Cement
spelling doaj-art-41f81e25112a4b9f8b784b83713dc84d2025-08-20T02:38:03ZengElsevierCement2666-54922024-12-011810011710.1016/j.cement.2024.100117Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastesZengliang Yue0Yuvaraj Dhandapani1Samuel Adu-Amankwah2Susan A. Bernal3School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United KingdomSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United KingdomSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Department of Civil Engineering, Aston University Birmingham, Aston St, B4 7ET, United KingdomSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.This study evaluates the reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, and microstructure evolution of Na2SO4-activated slag cements produced with three commercial slags. The main reaction products identified are ettringite and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, alongside a poorly crystalline SO42- intercalated Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase. Results revealed that the Al2O3 slag content alone does not correlate with the cement performance. While pastes made with a higher Al2O3 content slag exhibit faster reaction kinetics, those made with a slag with a higher Mg/Al ratio developed superior compressive strength and reduced porosity over extended curing periods. Thermodynamic modelling simulations indicate that sulfate consumption occurs via ettringite and LDH phase formation, influencing the slag reaction degree, pH value, and porosity reduction in these cements. This research highlights the critical role of slag composition in controlling microstructure and, consequently, performance of sodium sulfate activated slag cement pastes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666549224000264Blast furnace slagAlkali-activated cementsSodium sulfateMicrostructureThermodynamic modellingCompressive strength
spellingShingle Zengliang Yue
Yuvaraj Dhandapani
Samuel Adu-Amankwah
Susan A. Bernal
Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
Cement
Blast furnace slag
Alkali-activated cements
Sodium sulfate
Microstructure
Thermodynamic modelling
Compressive strength
title Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
title_full Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
title_fullStr Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
title_full_unstemmed Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
title_short Phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate-activated slag cement pastes
title_sort phase evolution and performance of sodium sulfate activated slag cement pastes
topic Blast furnace slag
Alkali-activated cements
Sodium sulfate
Microstructure
Thermodynamic modelling
Compressive strength
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666549224000264
work_keys_str_mv AT zengliangyue phaseevolutionandperformanceofsodiumsulfateactivatedslagcementpastes
AT yuvarajdhandapani phaseevolutionandperformanceofsodiumsulfateactivatedslagcementpastes
AT samueladuamankwah phaseevolutionandperformanceofsodiumsulfateactivatedslagcementpastes
AT susanabernal phaseevolutionandperformanceofsodiumsulfateactivatedslagcementpastes