A preliminary study of autoclaved alkali-activated slag blended with quartz powder

Alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (AAS) pastes blended with quartz powder (QP) at various replacement levels ranging from 0 wt.% to 30 wt.% with an increment of 5 wt.% were autoclaved at a pressure of 8 bars and a temperature of 170 °C. Different times of autoclaving were adopted namely, 0, 0.5, 1, 4, 6 and 10 h. The binder was activated by 25 wt.% of sodium silicate. Compressive strength values of the pastes before and after autoclaving were measured. The various decomposition phases formed were identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology of the formed hydrates was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The replacement of slag with QP in slag/QP composites resulted in a marked increase in strength values of either autoclaved or un-autoclaved specimens. The microstructure of slag/QP pastes showed a less porosity than those of the neat slag. It is also found that the compressive strength values of autoclaved specimens are higher than those of un-autoclaved specimens. The main hydration products identified of autoclaved specimens are calcium silicate hydrates and tobermorite gel.