The activation and hydration of glassy cementitious materials

This paper summarizes the relationship among structure, composition, and activity of glassy cementitious materials with low-calcium additions including slag and fly ash (FA). On the basis of silicate physical chemistry, silicate structure chemistry, silicate crystal chemistry, and coordination chemistry theory, five levels of glass structure have been described. Their influence on the reactivity and hydration properties of slag and FA are discussed using SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA), DSC-TG, and pore structure analysis. On the other hand, differences in activity between slag and FA are studied. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.