Sorptivity and strength of air-cured and water-cured PC-PFA-MK concrete and the influence of binder composition on carbonation depth

The paper reports the influence of the composition of Portland cement-pulverised fuel ash-metakaolin (PC-PFA-MK) binders on sorptivity and strength development of PC-PFA-MK concrete cured both in air and in water and on carbonation depth, and relates this to measured changes in sorptivity of the concrete. Concrete mixtures covering four different total cement replacement levels (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) for PC-PFA-MK concrete with various MK/PFA proportions, water and air cured for up to 18 months, were investigated. The change in compressive strength and sorptivity with age at all cement replacement levels under both water and air curing are compared with those of the control PC concrete. The results presented in this paper form part of an investigation into the optimisation of a ternary blended cementitious system based on ordinary PC, PFA and MK for the development of high-performance concrete.