Physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics of pozzolanic cement pastes and mortars hydrated at different curing temperatures

The effect of elevated curing temperature on the properties of cement mortars is vital for heat resistance. Addition of pozzolanas, such as slag, to type I cement is known to increase heat resistance. In this study, OPC was partially substituted by two types of slag (WCS and ACS) in the ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.%. The cement mortars were cured for 120 days at different curing temperature from 25 to 100 °C. The results show that, elevated curing temperatures improves the early age strength in the all cement mortars. Also, the results indicated that, the pozzolanic cement mortars gives higher compressive strength than the plain cement mortars, especially at curing temperatures above 35 °C. Therefore, slag pozzolanic cement mortars can be beneficially used in the hot conditions.

► Temperature increases the pozzolanic activity of slag cement.
► Combined slag and chemically combined water contents increase with temperature.
► Elevated temperatures improve the early age compressive and flexural strength.
► Highest compressive and flexural strength of slag cement obtained at 35–100 °C.