Thermal analysis (thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis) was used with scanning electron microscopy technique to investigate the hydration mechanisms and the microstructure of Portland cement-Fly ash-silica fume mixes. Calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H), ettringite, gehlenite hydrate (C2ASH8), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) phases were detected in all mixes. In the mixes with the use of silica fume addition, there is a decrease in Ca(OH)2 with increasing silica fume content at 5 and 10% compared to that of the reference Portland-fly ash cement paste and a corresponding increase in calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H).
Malhotra VM Mehta PK . Pozzolanic and cementitious materials, advance in concrete technology, vol. 1. USA: Gordon and Breach Publishers; 1996. p. 11.
Alonso JL Wesche K . Characterization of fly ash. In: Wesche K, editor. Fly ash in concrete. London: E and FN SPON; 1991. p. 3.
Baert G Hoste S Schutter G Belie N . Reactivity of fly ash in cement paste studied by means of thermogravimetry and isothermal calorimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2008; 94: 485–92 .
Vessalas K Thomas PS Ray AS Guerbois JP Joyce P Haggman J . Pozzolanic reactivity of the supplementary cementitious material pitchstone fines by thermogravimetric analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2009 .
ASTM C618. Standard specification for fly ash and raw calcined natural pozzolan for use as a mineral admixture in Portland cement concrete. Philadelphia: The American Society for Testing Materials; 1991.
Khalil A . Pore structure and surface area of hardened cement pastes containing silica fume. Mat Lett. 1996; 26: 259–64 .
Turkmen I Gavgali M Gul R . Influence of mineral admixtures on the mechanical properties and corrosion of steel embedded in high strength concrete. Mat Lett. 2003; 57: 2037–43 .
Turkmen I Gavgali M . Influence of mineral admixtures on the some properties and corrosion of steel embedded in sodium sulfate solution of concrete. Mat Lett. 2003; 57: 3222–33 .
Chung DDL . Review: improving cement-based materials by using silica fume. J Mater Sci. 2002; 37: 673–82 .
Zivica V . Effectiveness of new silica fume alkali activator. Cement Concr Comp. 2006; 28: 21–5 .
Thomas MDA Shehata MH Shashiprakash SG Hopkins DS Cail K . Use of ternary cementitious systems containing silica fume and fly ash in concrete. Cem Concr Res. 1999; 29: 1207–14 .
Langan BW Weng K Ward MA . Effect of silica fume and fly ash on heat of hydration of Portland cement. Cem Concr Res. 2002; 32: 1045–51 .
Jaturapitakkul C Kiattikomol K Sata V Leekeeratikul T . Use of ground coarse fly ash as a replacement of condensed silica fume in producing high-strength concrete. Cem Concr Res. 2004; 34: 549–55 .
Temiz H Karakeci AY . An investigation on microstructure of cement paste containing fly ash and silica fume. Cem Concr Res. 2002; 32: 1131–2 .
Lilkov V Dimitrova E Petrov OE . Hydration process of cement containing fly ash and silica fume: the first 24 hours. Cem Concr Res. 1997; 27: 577–88 .
Giergiczny Z . Effect of some additives on the reactions in fly ash-Ca(OH)2 system. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2004; 76: 747–54 .
Amer AA . Thermal analysis of hydrated fly ash-lime pastes. J Therm Anal Calorim. 1998; 54: 837–43 .