Influence of different curing conditions on the pore structure and the early age properties of mortars with fly ash and blast-furnace slag

• Main Authors: J. M. Ortega, I. Sánchez, M. A. Climent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2013-06-01
• Series: Materiales de Construccion
• Subjects: ground granulated blast-furnace slag; fly ash; hardening environment; microstructure; durability
• Online Access: http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/748

In this work, the evolution of the microstructure, durability properties and mechanical strength of mortars made with commercial cements, which contain fly ash (between 21% and 35%) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (between 66% and 80%), were studied. These mortars were exposed to three different environments during their hardening, an optimum laboratory condition, and two environments representing a mild Atlantic climate and a Mediterranean climate, respectively. As a reference, ordinary Portland cement mortars were also tested. The microstructure was characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry. Regarding durability, the capillary suction coefficient and non-steady-state chloride migration coefficient were determined. Compressive strength was studied too. The tests were performed at 7, 28 and 90 days. The main conclusion of this work is that cements with slag and fly ash hardened under environmental conditions of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates, can develop good service properties after three months of hardening.