Hydration and properties of ternary cement with calcareous filler and slag

The calcareous filler produces an increase in early hydration due to the physical effects (filler and heterogeneous nucleation). The dilution effect counteracts this benefit and limits its content. Slag reacts slowly, causes the refinement of grains and pores, and improves the mechanical and durable properties. This paper is a study on the hydration of cements with filler (0 to 20%) and slag (0 to 35%), utilizing the Powers model for slag expanded by Chen & Brouwers. The mechanical resistance of the concrete (a/mc = 0.50) and the segmentation of the pores in relation to the capillary absorption rate are analyzed from the hydration results. The results show a limit on the filler content to obtain an adequate response for the mechanical and durable resistances at a greater age, and a limit on the slag content to obtain appropriate values at an early age.

Keywords:Calcareous filler; Slag; Resistance; Capillary absorption; Hydration.