Effect of initial calcium to silicon ratio on the hybrid alkali-activated cement: From strength development to microstructure evolution
Article
Wang, Shu, Kong, Jiafeng, Li, Zhonghao, Chen, Hongkai, Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Wang, Xiaomeng, Feng, Xiumei and Chen, Mingxu. 2025. "Effect of initial calcium to silicon ratio on the hybrid alkali-activated cement: From strength development to microstructure evolution." Construction and Building Materials. 464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140179
| Article Title | Effect of initial calcium to silicon ratio on the hybrid alkali-activated cement: From strength development to microstructure evolution |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 3470 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Wang, Shu, Kong, Jiafeng, Li, Zhonghao, Chen, Hongkai, Cao, Yubin, Wang, Yanru, Wang, Xiaomeng, Feng, Xiumei and Chen, Mingxu |
| Journal Title | Construction and Building Materials |
| Journal Citation | 464 |
| Article Number | 140179 |
| Number of Pages | 11 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Place of Publication | Netherlands |
| ISSN | 0950-0618 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140179 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061825003277 |
| Abstract | This study explores the potential of hybrid alkali-activated cement (HAAC) prepared from ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), low-calcium fly ash (FA), and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as precursors, activated by a water glass-sodium hydroxide solution. Formulations were developed based on the chemical composition of the precursors, systematically varying the initial calcium to silicon (C/S) ratio (1 to 1.25) and OPC content (20 wt% to 30 wt%) to facilitate the utilization of solid waste in high-performance HAAC. Experimental results showed that HAAC achieved significantly faster setting times, superior workability (up to 190 mm spread vs. 113 mm for OPC), and higher 28 d compressive strength (up to 75 MPa) compared to OPC (50 MPa). Increasing the initial C/S ratio shortened setting times by approximately 5 %, reduced fluidity by 3.92–4.45 %, and increased compressive strength by 17.3–23.16 %. Isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP) analyses indicated that hydrated HAAC forms a C-(A)-S-H gel with containing hydrocalumite, producing a denser microstructure with fewer capillary pores and more gel pores than OPC. These findings provide fundamental information for designing and optimizing HAAC using industrial byproducts. |
| Keywords | Calcium to silicon ratio; Hybrid alkali-activated cement; Supplementary cementitious materials; Strength development; Microstructure |
| Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 400505. Construction materials |
| Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Byline Affiliations | Qingdao Agricultural University, China |
| Centre for Future Materials | |
| Tongji University, China | |
| University of Jinan, China | |
| Qingdao University of Technology, China |
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