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Advances in Concrete Construction
  Volume 11, Number 5, May 2021 , pages 419-428
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/acc.2021.11.5.419
 


Influence of fly ash and GGBFS on the pH value of cement mortar in different curing conditions
Payam Shafigh, Sumra Yousuf, Zainah Ibrahim, Belal Alsubari and Iman Asadi

 
Abstract
    The pH of cement-based materials (CBMs) is an important factor for their durability, sustainability, and long service life. Currently, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is becoming mandatory due to economic, environmental, and sustainable issues. There is a decreasing trend in pH of CBMs due to incorporation of SCMs. The determination of numerical values of pH is very important for various low and high volume SCMs blended cement mortars for the better understanding of different defects and durability issues during their service life. In addition, the effect of cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction of SCMs on the pH should be determined at initial and later ages. In this study, the effect of low and high-volume fly ash (FA) and ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) cement mortars in different curing conditions on their pH values has been determined. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to support the findings from pH measurements. In addition, thermal conductivity (k-value) and strength activity indices of these cement mortars were discussed. The results showed that pH values of all blended cement mortars were less than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar in all curing conditions used. There was a decreasing tendency in pH of all mortars with passage of time. In addition, the pH of cement mortars was not only dependent on the quantity of Ca(OH)2. The effect of adding SCMs on the pH value of cement mortar should be monitored and measured for both short and long terms.
 
Key Words
    Ca(OH)2 content; curing condition; durability; fly ash; GGBFS; k-value; pH; supplementary cementitious materials
 
Address
Payam Shafigh: Centre for Building, Construction & Tropical Architecture (BuCTA), Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sumra Yousuf: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Building and Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, 60000 Multan, Pakistan
Zainah Ibrahim: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Belal Alsubari: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Miami College of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
Iman Asadi: Centre for Building, Construction & Tropical Architecture (BuCTA), Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
References
    -acc1105007-
 

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