TY - CONF A1 - Durlo Tambara, Luís Urbano T1 - Early hydration reactions of calcium sulfoaluminate cement in water and alkaline media N2 - This study investigates the early hydration of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement in water (CSAH) and 2M NaOH (CSA2M), both with a liquid/solid ratio of 0.5. Hydration kinetics were assessed using in situ X-ray diffraction, isothermal conduction calorimetry, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and mechanical strength measurements. The results indicate that in the CSA2M system, the maximum heat release occurs earlier, and UPV measurements reveal a more rapid increase in mechanical stiffness (Figure 1a). The presence of alkalis accelerates the dissolution of ye’elimite and anhydrite, leading to a shorter induction period and faster precipitation of ettringite (Figure 1b-d). The phase refinement confirmed a higher dissolution rate of anhydrite in the alkaline environment, while the formation of ettringite stabilizes within 10 hours. Initial dissolution (0–40 min) increases ion concentration, followed by accelerated ettringite formation (0.6–2.5 h) with rising heat flow and UPV. A secondary acceleration (2.5–4.3 h) occurs only in CSAH. Deceleration (2.5–10 h) leads to further stabilization, with reactions proceeding at a slower rate. At 25 h, CSAH reached 58.3% ettringite and CSA2M 48.2%. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the early hydration mechanisms of CSA cement and the impact of alkalis on phase evolution. T2 - 3rd International Workshop on Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cements CY - Leeds, UK DA - 23.06.2025 KW - Calcium sulfoaluminate cement KW - Ultrasonic pulse velocity KW - Early hydration KW - Alkali KW - In situ XRD PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63758 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Durlo Tambara, Luís Urbano A1 - Dehn, F. A1 - Gluth, Gregor T1 - Effect of alkali-activated concrete composition on carbonation rate under accelerated and natural conditions N2 - While alkali-activated binders offer certain advantages over traditional Portland cement binders, particu¬larly in terms of resistance against chemical attacks and potentially environmental footprint, their degradation mechanisms remain incompletely understood at present, specifically carbonation. Thus, this study investigates the impact of natural and accelerated carbonation (1% and 4% CO2) on three different compositions of alkali-activated concretes: 100% calcined clay (C100) binder, 100% ground blast furnace slag (S100) binder, and a 40% calcined clay and 60% blast furnace slag blend (C40S60). C100 concretes exhibit faster carbonation kinetics, with five times greater natural carbonation depths than S100. This difference diminishes under accelerated carbonation, showing a 1.5 times difference for 1% CO2 and complete carbonation for 4% CO2 at 90 days. The results thus confirm that accelerated carbonation testing of low-Ca alkali-activated concretes yields results that are not representative of natural carbonation. The C40S60 sample demonstrates a carbonation profile similar to a CEM I concrete, i.e., a high carbonation resistance. Microstructure analysis indicates the formation of three polymorphs of calcium carbonate for S100 (calcite, vaterite, and aragonite), with a higher CO2 concentration favouring aragonite over vaterite. C100 exhibits no calcium carbonates; instead, sodium carbonates form, including trona for 4% CO2 and natrite for both accelerated tests. C40S60 shows calcium and sodium carbonates, although to a lesser extent, containing predominantly calcite and minor signals of natrite. Suitable compositions, like C40S60, prove as effective during natural or accelerated carbonation tests as conventional Portland cement concrete. T2 - RILEM Spring Convention 2024 CY - Milan, Italy DA - 10.04.2024 KW - Alkali-activated concrete KW - Carbonation KW - Calcined clay KW - Slag KW - Durability PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-59915 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -