Enhancing thixotropy and structural build-up of alkali-activated slag/fly ash pastes with nano clay

Dai X., Ren Q., Aydın S., Yardımcı M. Y., Lesage K., De Schutter G.

Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, vol.54, no.4, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 54 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1617/s11527-021-01760-4
  • Journal Name: Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, ICONDA Bibliographic, INSPEC, Metadex, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Thixotropy, Ground blast-furnace slag, Fly ash, Nano clay, Structural build-up
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021, RILEM.This study investigates the influence of nano clay on the rheological properties of alkali-activated cement pastes having different GGBFS/FA ratios. The thixotropic index, structural build-up, dynamic yield stress and heat evolution of fresh AAC pastes with addition of nano clay are studied. Test results showed that nano clay had a strong influence on the thixotropy/structural build-up and dynamic yield stress of AAC pastes depending on the GGBFS/FA ratio of the mixture. It was found that the pastes with lower GGBFS/FA ratio exhibited higher thixotropic index, but lower dynamic yield stress in the presence of nano clay. This study reveals the importance of GGBFS/FA ratio in the presence of nano clay for obtaining AAC mixtures with low dynamic yield stress for a better flowability and high thixotropy/structural build-up for stability.