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The effects of calcium formate on the early hydration of alkali silicate activated slag

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Abstract

Alkali silicate activated slag (AAS) most commonly develops high strength, but is usually accompanied by fast setting. In this study, slag was activated by a potassium silicate solution possessing different moduli (Ms = 0.7 and 1). The workability of the alkali activated slag mortar, at 4 and 20 min, was assessed by means of a mini-slump test. The sample with an Ms of 1 was not workable after 20 min. Calcium formate was subsequently added to extend the workable time of the mortar but this lowered its compressive strength. Ultrasonic measurements indicated a slower solid phase development in the AAS paste, in the presence of calcium formate, which was associated with a decreased amount of C–S–H gel in the hydrates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Ehrenberg (FEhS) and Dr. Krakehl (Woellner GmbH) for the supply of slag and alkali silicate solutions. Furthermore, the work of the laboratory staff of TU Berlin is greatly acknowledged.

Funding

This study was funded by Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen (AiF, Grant Number: 18856 BG).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Traffic and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology, Shenzhen, 518172, China

    Yu Jin

  2. Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany

    Yu Jin, Dietmar Stephan & Zichen Lu

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  1. Yu Jin
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  2. Dietmar Stephan
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  3. Zichen Lu
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Correspondence to Yu Jin.

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Jin, Y., Stephan, D. & Lu, Z. The effects of calcium formate on the early hydration of alkali silicate activated slag. Mater Struct 52, 37 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-019-1336-y

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