The effect of activating solution on the mechanical strength, reaction rate, mineralogy, and microstructure of alkali-activated fly ash

• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-012-6316-3
• Publication Date: 2012-02-15T16:05:45Z
• Authors: Y. Ma; J. Hu; G. Ye
• Keywords: Mercury intrusion porosimetry

Alkali-activated fly ash (AAF) is a promising material that exhibits comparable properties as cement-based materials but with much less CO2 emission. In the present work, effect of activating solution (SiO2 and Na2O content) on performance AAF was studied by means isothermal calorimetry X-ray diffraction analysis. Meanwhile, pore structure examined mercury intrusion porosimetry combined environmental scanning electron microscope. The results indicate increasing sodium oxide content leads to higher extent reaction, denser matrix possibility crystallization, corresponding compressive strength AAF. addition silica in alkaline retards reaction rate zeolite formation, while improves microstructure matrix. Therefore, there an optimal value for SiO2 respect this study.