Comparison of hydration properties between cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder and cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder

The hydration properties of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder and cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder were compared. The experimental results show that the hydration rate of cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder is higher than that of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder within 28 days, but lower than the latter after 28 days. The hydration of cement-GGBS-steel slag blended binder tends to produce more Ca(OH)₂ than the hydration of cement-GGBS-fly ash blended binder, especially at late ages. Cement-GGBS-steel slag mortar exhibits higher strength than cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar within 28 days, but at late ages, it exhibits similar compressive strength with cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar and even slightly lower bending strength than cement-GGBS-fly ash mortar. Cement-GGBS-steel slag paste has finer early pore structure but coarser late pore structure than cement-GGBS-fly ash paste. Cement-GGBS-steel slag paste can get satisfied late pore structure and cement-GGBS-steel slag mortar can get satisfied late strength as compared with pure cement paste and pure cement mortar, respectively.