Influence of activator type on hydration kinetics, hydrate assemblage and microstructural development of alkali activated blast-furnace slags

The hydration of two slags with different Al(2)O(3) contents activated with sodium hydroxide and hydrous sodium metasilicate (commonly named water glass) is studied using a multi-method approach. In all systems, C-S-H incorporating aluminium and a hydrotalcite-like phase with Mg/Al ratio similar to 2 are the main hydration products. The C-S-H gels present in NaOH activated pastes are more crystalline and contain less water; a calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and a sodium rich C-N-S-H with a similar Ca content are observed at longer hydration times. The activation using NaOH results in high early strength, but strength at 7 days and longer is lower than for the sodium metasilicate systems. The drastic difference in C-S-H structure leads to a coarser capillary porosity and to lower compressive strength for the NaOH activated than for the sodium metasilicate activated slags at the same degree of slag reaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.