The role of the alumina content of slag, plus the presence of additional sulfate on the hydration and microstructure of Portland cement-slag blends

The effects on composite cements of the aluminium content of slag, plus that of additional sulfate, have been investigated. Samples containing cement or composites with 40% replacement by one of 2 different slags, differing in aluminium contents, were prepared. A further blended sample was prepared with additional anhydrite replacing 3% w/w of binder. Slag blended mortars showed comparable strengths to the neat cement system at later ages. Adding slag changed the hydration kinetics of the clinker phases. The addition of sulfate had no effect on slag reactivity but increased that of alite. Slags richer in aluminium resulted in greater incorporation of aluminium into C-S-H and encouraged the presence of hemicarboaluminate over monocarboaluminate. The Ca/Si ratios of the C-S-H formed were comparable between the two blends, being marginally lower than that of the neat system. The addition of anhydrite resulted in the adsorption of sulfate onto the C-S-H, plus stabilisation of ettringite.