Quantum mechanics

Engineering

Aerospace engineering

Metallurgy

Materials science

Slag (welding)

Porosity

Physics

Seeding

Portland cement

Cement

Microstructure

Porous medium

Composite material

Kinetics

Scanning electron microscope

Mercury intrusion porosimetry

Clinker (cement)

Compressive strength

Cement and Concrete Research

The impact of C-S-H seeding on the hydration of slag blended cement was systematically investigated, trying to understand and explore the potential of C-S-H seeding in blended cement. Three levels of substitution of cement by slag were investigated: 50, 75 and 95 wt%. Compressive strength, calorimetry, in-situ and fresh disc XRD experiments were carried out. Results show that C-S-H seeding improves the performance of slag blended cement significantly with regards to strength at early and later stage. Quantitative XRD analyses show how C-S-H seeding influences the clinker hydration kinetics. The microstructure of hardened blended cement paste was investigated using electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results show that C-S-H seeding altered the microstructure dramatically by refining the porosity. Correlation of strength to heat release and pore structure indicates that there is structural impact of C-S-H seeding besides the impact on kinetics in the hardened samples.

Impact of C-S-H seeding on hydration and strength of slag blended cement