A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar

The purpose of this study is to find appropriate mixtures for self-leveling mortar that meet the fluidity requirements without displaying segregation by using a combination of two types of cement (Type I Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC)) with reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA). Unlike...

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Main Authors: Pei-Min Chuang, Wei-Chung Yeih, Ran Huang, Jiang-Jhy Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1358
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author Pei-Min Chuang
Wei-Chung Yeih
Ran Huang
Jiang-Jhy Chang
author_facet Pei-Min Chuang
Wei-Chung Yeih
Ran Huang
Jiang-Jhy Chang
author_sort Pei-Min Chuang
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study is to find appropriate mixtures for self-leveling mortar that meet the fluidity requirements without displaying segregation by using a combination of two types of cement (Type I Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC)) with reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA). Unlike the fly ash, RUFA has a strong strength activity index and exhibits a significant pattern of amorphous phase in XRD. Appropriate mix proportions of raw materials, including the superplasticizer, require investigation in depth. A fixed water-to-binder ratio of 0.6 was selected, with varying proportions of the two cementitious materials considered (the SAC volume percentages were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) and different RUFA contents (the RUFA volume percentages were 5%, 10%, and 15%). Twelve experiments were conducted to examine the properties of the self-leveling mortars. We found that a higher RUFA volume percentage results in lower porosity, higher compressive strength, and better resistance to drying shrinkage, abrasion, and restrained shrinkage cracking. Increasing the SAC volume percentage increases the porosity of self-leveling mortar and its early compressive strength but decreases late-stage strength. At a 10% volume percentage level, SAC achieves an ideal balance among drying shrinkage, brasion, and shrinkage cracking.
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issn 2076-3417
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spelling doaj-art-7ac2a09fa8ab4d18ab5b55490a9828712025-08-20T02:48:01ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153135810.3390/app15031358A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling MortarPei-Min Chuang0Wei-Chung Yeih1Ran Huang2Jiang-Jhy Chang3Department of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20231, TaiwanDepartment of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20231, TaiwanDepartment of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20231, TaiwanDepartment of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20231, TaiwanThe purpose of this study is to find appropriate mixtures for self-leveling mortar that meet the fluidity requirements without displaying segregation by using a combination of two types of cement (Type I Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC)) with reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA). Unlike the fly ash, RUFA has a strong strength activity index and exhibits a significant pattern of amorphous phase in XRD. Appropriate mix proportions of raw materials, including the superplasticizer, require investigation in depth. A fixed water-to-binder ratio of 0.6 was selected, with varying proportions of the two cementitious materials considered (the SAC volume percentages were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) and different RUFA contents (the RUFA volume percentages were 5%, 10%, and 15%). Twelve experiments were conducted to examine the properties of the self-leveling mortars. We found that a higher RUFA volume percentage results in lower porosity, higher compressive strength, and better resistance to drying shrinkage, abrasion, and restrained shrinkage cracking. Increasing the SAC volume percentage increases the porosity of self-leveling mortar and its early compressive strength but decreases late-stage strength. At a 10% volume percentage level, SAC achieves an ideal balance among drying shrinkage, brasion, and shrinkage cracking.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1358porositycompressive strengthrestrained shrinkagedrying shrinkage
spellingShingle Pei-Min Chuang
Wei-Chung Yeih
Ran Huang
Jiang-Jhy Chang
A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
Applied Sciences
porosity
compressive strength
restrained shrinkage
drying shrinkage
title A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
title_full A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
title_fullStr A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
title_full_unstemmed A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
title_short A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
title_sort study on reactive ultra fine fly ash and sulfoaluminate cement in self leveling mortar
topic porosity
compressive strength
restrained shrinkage
drying shrinkage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1358
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