Characterization of ecocement pastes and mortars produced from incinerated ashes

In this study, the microstructure and the hydration characteristics of the pastes using ecocement, which is a new type of hydraulic cement, produced with incinerator ashes, limestone and clay was investigated. In addition, the beneficial effect of granulated blast-furnace slag on this new type of cement was also investigated in comparison to ordinary portland cement (OPC). Several tests including AC impedance spectroscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for the study. The results of the various tests were discussed in a complementary manner; in particular, the results of the AC impedance were discussed in conjunction with that of the mercury intrusion porosimetry in order to gain insight into the interpretation of impedance spectrum plots in a physical manner. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.