Ali Allahverdi - Cement Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology,Narmak ۱۶۸۴۶-۱۳۱۱۴, Tehran, Iran
Afsaneh Maleki - Cement Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology,Narmak ۱۶۸۴۶-۱۳۱۱۴, Tehran, Iran

This work investigates the effects of both soluble and insoluble chemical activators and quality improvers on hydraulic activity of Portland cement-Blast furnace slag paste. An optimum mix consisting of 48% Portland cement, 43% slag and 9% compound insoluble activator was firstly selected based on 28- and 60-day compressive strengths. A number of different soluble chemical activators and two different quality improvers including Triisopropanolamine and Triethanolaminewere then utilized for enhancing the hydraulic activity of the mix. Experimental results show thataddition of 0.04% Triethanolamine result in 60-day compressive strengths up to 102.5 MPa. Nonchlorinesoluble chemical activators, however, alone or in combination with quality improver donot result in higher compressive strengths. Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has confirmed the presence of calcium-silicate hydrates as the main binding compound of the material. Studies by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry on 60-day cured hardened paste of the material shows that the microstructure is composed of an amorphous matrixin which non- or partially reacted slag particles are embedded

Cement, Blast-furnace slag, Activation, Chemical activators