Modification of the hydration products of hydrated cement paste by fly ash, β-cyclodextrin and fly ash-β-cyclodextrin composite

Studies on the modification of the hydration products of fly ash (FA), beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and fly ash-beta-cyclodextrin (FA-beta-CD) composite cement paste samples as hydration progressed were done using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This paper investigates the effect of FA, beta-CD and FA-beta-CD composite on the hydration and pozzolanic reactions. It was evident from all the analyses that beta-CD improved the hydration reaction from the 7 day hydration period, while improvement on pozzolanic reaction was revealed from the 28 day hydration period. The study contributed to the knowledge of FA performance as a composite with cyclodextrin and promoted the continued inclusion of FA in concrete.