Durability and chemical resistance of nanoparticles fly ash and silica fume belite cement pastes against sulfate and chloride aggressive media- Part II

The durability (chemical resistence) of the Portland cement (OPC), belite cement (BC) and the optimum belite cement (B4), which their physical and chemo/mechanical properties were perviously investigated in Part I, against 4 % MgSO4 and 4% MgCl2 solutions up to 12 months in terms of compressive strength, total sulfate and total chloride was evaluated and studied. Results showed that the optimum belite cement (B4) containing 15 % High pulverized fly ash (HPFA) and 5 % Silica fume (SF) could be resisted up to 6 months, while that of BC could be withstood only up to 5 months, and the OPC could not resist more than three months of immersion in 4% MgSO4 solution. The compressive strength values exhibited by the samples immesed in sulfate solution at 3, 5 and 6 months of immersion were 83.81, 76.38 and 91.13 MPa, respectively. The same trend was displayed when the same samples were exposed to 4% MgCl2 solution. The compressive strength values exhibited by the same samples exposed to chloride solution at 3, 5 and 6 months of immersion were 84.49, 82.23 and 93.32 MPa, respectively. The total sulfate and chloride contents were enhanced with immesion time up to 12 months, but their values were the minimum with B4 and the maximum with OPC, while with BC were the medium. The optimum cement batch (B4) achieved the highest resistance where it recorded the lowest values for sulfate and chloride ions, but the OPC exhibited the lowest resistance where it recorded the highest values of sulfate and chloride contents at all immersion ages till 12 months.

Effect of Fly Ash Belite Cement on Hydration Performance of Portland Cement

Fly ash belite cement is a green, low carbon cementitious material, mainly composed of hydraulic minerals of dicalcium silicate and calcium aluminate. In this study, we used fly ash belite cement to control the setting time, hydration heat, strength, composition and microstructure of hydration products in Portland cement. Results showed that incorporating fly ash belite cement into Portland cement can shorten the setting time, accelerate hydration reaction speed, enhance early hydration heat release rate of silicate minerals and reduce total hydration heat. Moreover, replacing composite cement with 30% FABC causes the 90 d compressive strength of pastes and mortars to reach 107 and 46.2 MPa, respectively. The mechanical properties can meet the requirements of P·F 42.5 cement. During the hydration reaction process, clinker and Portland cement have a synergistic hydration effect. Notably, hydration of fly ash belite cement promotes the formation of C-S-H gel, Ettringite and calcium hydroxide, thereby significantly enhancing long-term strength. With the increase of FABC contents, the long-term strength would be improved with the densification of hydration products. The porosity has a great influence on the strength, and the high porosity was the main cause of the low early strength of FABC pastes. FABC and its composite cement show promise for mass concrete applications and can be applied as a setting agent for Portland cement.

Physical and Chemo/Mechanical behaviors of fly ash and silica fume belite cement pastes- Part I

Physical, chemical and mechanical properties of high belite cement (HBC) blended with high pulverized fly ash (HPFA) with stable ratio of silica fume (SF) in comparison with Portland cement (OPC) were investigated. Results showed that the water of consistency and setting times (Initial and final) tended to increase with the increase of HPFA content. The bulk density and compressive strength were also improved and enhanced with the increase of HPFS content at all hydration times, but only up to 15 % HPFA, and then decreased with further increase. However, the total porosity slightly decreased, but started to increase with further increase of >15 % HPFA. The free lime content of the pure OPC and HBC gradually were increased as the hydration times progressed up to 90 days, while those of blended cements increased only up to 7 days and then decreased onward. The results were confirmed by measuring the heat of hydration and ultrasonic pulse velocity for the optimum cement pastes comparing with those of both OPC and HBC. The heat of hydration of the optimum cement pastes was decreased at all hydration times and become lower than those of OPC and HBC. The ultrasonic pulse velocity test (USPV) proved that the uniformity and quality of the matrix of the hardened cement pastes are good with no cracks.