The influence of steel slag with high Al2O3 content on the initial hydration of cement

The initial hydration of steel slag with high Al₂O₃ content and its influence on the initial hydration of cement were investigated in this study. Steel slag with high Al₂O₃ content may contain much calcium aluminate mineral but very little gypsum. The steel slag hydrates much more quickly than cement in the initial hydration period, producing many flake products which have a great influence on the fluidity, initial setting time, and adsorption level of superplasticizer of paste. Replacing part of cement by steel slag with high Al₂O₃ content can change the hydration condition of calcium aluminate mineral of the cement by decreasing the gypsum to calcium aluminate mineral ratio, resulting in accelerating the hydration rate of calcium aluminate mineral in the initial hydration period. Paste containing steel slag with high Al₂O₃ content has a shorter initial setting time, higher adsorption level of superplasticizer, and greater loss in fluidity than the pure cement paste.