• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of recycled aggregates powder (RP) contents on recycled aggregates (RA) using fly-ash (FA) mortar in a condition of zero cement targeting earth filling materials, and the results can be summarized as follows. First, there was a tendency that as RP contents increased, W/B and air contents increased also. In the case of compressive strength, the strength was hardly developed at the early age, which was prior to 14 days; however, with the starting point of 14 days of age, strength of around 1.5~2.0 MPa was developed when it arrived at 28 days. At a curing temperature of $20^{\circ}C$, the more RP contents increased, the more the compressive strength increased in comparison with FA 100% at all levels except RP 100 %, showing the highest compressive strength at RP 25 %. At a curing temperature of $35^{\circ}C$, the temperature-dependence appeared to be large, as the RP contents were decreased compared to the curing temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. In addition, based on SEM analysis, this study was able to confirm that a pozzolanic reaction formed by an alkali stimulus of RA with the lapse of certain days even in 100 percent FA, causing the densification of tissues, and with RP 25%, hydrate was created the most densely by the hydration of unhydrated cement particles and pozzolanic reaction of FA.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.381-390
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• 2015

Investigating the microstructure of hardened cement mixtures with the aid of advanced technology will help the concrete industry to develop appropriate binders for durable building materials. In this paper, morphological, mineralogical and thermogravimetric analyses of autoclave-cured mixtures incorporating ground dune sand and ground granulated blast furnace slag as partial cementing materials were investigated. The microstructure analyses of hydrated products were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo-graphic analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM and EDX results demonstrated the formation of thin plate-like calcium silicate hydrate plates and a compacted microstructure. The DTA and TGA analyses revealed that the calcium hydroxide generated from the hydration binder materials was consumed during the secondary pozzolanic reaction. Residual crystalline silica was observed from the XRD analysis of all of the blended mixtures, indicating the presence of excess silica. A good correlation was observed between the compressive strength of the blended mixtures and the CaO/$SiO_2$ ratio of the binder materials.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 2021

The pH of cement-based materials (CBMs) is an important factor for their durability, sustainability, and long service life. Currently, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is becoming mandatory due to economic, environmental, and sustainable issues. There is a decreasing trend in pH of CBMs due to incorporation of SCMs. The determination of numerical values of pH is very important for various low and high volume SCMs blended cement mortars for the better understanding of different defects and durability issues during their service life. In addition, the effect of cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction of SCMs on the pH should be determined at initial and later ages. In this study, the effect of low and high-volume fly ash (FA) and ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) cement mortars in different curing conditions on their pH values has been determined. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to support the findings from pH measurements. In addition, thermal conductivity (k-value) and strength activity indices of these cement mortars were discussed. The results showed that pH values of all blended cement mortars were less than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar in all curing conditions used. There was a decreasing tendency in pH of all mortars with passage of time. In addition, the pH of cement mortars was not only dependent on the quantity of Ca(OH)₂. The effect of adding SCMs on the pH value of cement mortar should be monitored and measured for both short and long terms.