3-Dimensional insight into zonation within slag rims of aged blended cement

Through the integration of SEM-BSE and TEM, we gained a comprehensive 3-dimensional understanding of different distribution patterns of inner hydration products of slag. For fully hydrated small slag grains, two distinct sub-zones were formed in the rims. Lath-like, well-crystalline hydrotalcite-like crystals were found to precipitate, grow,...

Characterizing two types of zonation within slag rims of aged alkali-activated slag pastes through SEM and TEM

In this paper, the authors characterized two types of zonation within slag rims in aged alkali-activated slag (AAS) systems through SEM and TEM technology. These two elemental zonation were closely related to the pore structure of AAS pastes, thus providing strong implication for the transport- and durability-related performance of AAS...

Role of the grain size on the hydration characteristics of slag in an aged field concrete

This paper studies chemical composition of partially and fully hydrated slag grains in a (nearly) 40-year-old field concrete from the Netherlands. The concrete samples were assumed to be sufficiently aged to contain fully hydrated slag grains as well as partially hydrated large slag particles with thick rims. Our analysis showed that three...