Hydration Characteristics of Low-Heat Cement Substituted by Fly Ash and Limestone Powder

This study proposed a new binder as an alternative to conventional cement to reduce the heat of hydration in mass concrete elements. As a main cementitious material, low-heat cement (LHC) was considered, and then fly ash (FA), modified FA (MFA) by vibrator mill, and limestone powder (LP) were used as a partial replacement of LHC. The addition of FA delayed the induction period at the hydration heat curve and the maximum heat flow value (q_max) increased compared with the LHC based binder. As the proportion and fineness of the FA increased, the induction period of the hydration heat curve was extended, and the q_max increased. The hydration production of Ca(OH)₂ was independent of the addition of FA or MFA up to an age of 7 days, beyond which the amount of Ca(OH)₂ gradually decreased owing to their pozzolanic reaction. In the case of LP being used as a supplementary cementitious material, the induction period of the hydration heat curve was reduced by comparison with the case of LHC based binder, and monocarboaluminate was observed as a hydration product. The average pore size measured at an age of 28 days was smaller for LHC with FA or MFA than for 100% LHC.