Peiyu Yan

Hydration of shrinkage-compensating binders with different compositions and water-binder ratios

The calorimetric data of blended shrinkage-compensating binders with different compositions were measured at 25°C at different water-binder ratios using an isothermal calorimeter. The hydration characteristics of shrinkage-compensating binders were evaluated and their influence on the expansive properties of blended shrinkage-compensating binders was determined. Composition and w/b ratio significantly affect the hydration rate and degree of shrinkage-compensating binders, as well as their expansive and mechanical properties. The total heat of hydration of binders decreases with w/c ratios. Its final hydration degree also decreases with w/c ratio. The ternary binders composed with Portland cement, mineral admixture and expansive agent show low hydration heat and rate of heat evolution, but their total heat of hydration increases continuously and surpasses that of binary binder in later period at low w/b ratio.

Comparison of hydration properties between cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder and cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder

The hydration properties of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder and cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder were compared. The experimental results show that the hydration rate of cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder is higher than that of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder within 28 days, but lower than the latter after 28 days. The hydration of cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder tends to produce more Ca(OH)2 than the hydration of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder, especially at late ages. Cement-GGBS-steel slag mortar exhibits higher strength than cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar within 28 days, but at late ages, it exhibits similar compressive strength with cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar and even slightly lower bending strength than cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar. Cement-GGBS-steel slag paste has finer early pore structure but coarser late pore structure than cement-GGBS-fly ash paste. Cement-GGBS-steel slag paste can get satisfied late pore structure and cement-GGBS-steel slag mortar can get satisfied late strength as compared with pure cement paste and pure cement mortar, respectively.

The influence of mineral admixtures on bending strength of mortar on the premise of equal compressive strength

The influence of mineral admixtures on bending strength of mortar on the premise of equal compressive strength was investigated. Three mineral admixtures (fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag and steel slag) were used. The adding amount of mineral admixture in this study ranges from 22.5% to 60%, and the water-to-binder ratio ranges from 0.34 to 0.50. With equal compressive strength, different mortars can be arranged in such a descending order with their bending strength: cement-fly ash mortar, cement mortar, cement-GGBS mortar, and cement-steel slag mortar. With the same compressive strength, the higher the steel slag content and water-to-binder ratio, the lower the bending strength of mortars. However, the effect of mineral mixture content and water-to-binder ratio on the bending strength of cement-fly ash mortar and cement-GGBS mortar is far inconspicuous.