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Effect of shrinkage-reducing admixtures on the properties of alkali-activated slag mortars and pastes
Publicación en versión impresa: mayo de 2007The effect of a shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) based on polypropylenglycol on the dimensional stability of waterglass-activated slag
mortars was studied. The analysis also showed the effect of the admixture on pore structure of the mortars as well as on the mineralogical
composition and microstructure of the alkali-activated slag pastes.
The SRA reduced the shrinkage by up to 85 and 50% when the alkali-activated slag mortar specimens were cured at relative humidities of 99 and
50%, respectively. The mechanism primarily involved in shrinkage reduction is the decrease in the surface tension of pore water prompted by the
admixture. The SRA also modified the pore structure – under both curing conditions – increasing the percentage of pores with diameters ranging
from 1.0 to 0.1 μm. Capillary stress is much lower in these pores than in the smaller capillaries prevailing in mortars prepared without admixtures.
Microstructurally, the SRA occasioned a slight increase in the proportion of Si units Q2 in the CSH gel and a decrease in the percentage of Al
replacing the Si in the gel structure. The admixture did not, however, modify the mineralogical composition of the pastes.
Finally, the SRA admixture retarded the alkaline activation of the slag, more intensely at higher admixture dosages. While the admixture did
not significantly alter the degree of reaction in pastes cured for 7 days at RH=99%, the value of this parameter dropped by 7% in the presence of
the admixture in pastes cured at 50% relative humidity.Funding for project MAT 2001–1490 was provided by the
Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (MCyT). The
authors wish to thank A. Gil, J. L. GarcÃa, I. Sobrados, J. L.
Llueca and J. L. Pita for their support in the tests conducted for
this study.Peer reviewe