%0 Journal Article
%A Puertas, F.
%A Palacios, M.
%A Manzano, H.
%A Dolado, J. S.
%A Rico, A.
%A Rodríguez, J.
%T A model for the C-A-S-H gel formed in alkali-activated slag cements
%D 2011
%@ 0955-2219
%U https://hdl.handle.net/11556/3216
%X For first time, an experimental and computational study has been conducted to define a structural model for the C-A-S-H gel forming in alkali-activated slag (AAS) pastes that would account for the mechanical properties of these materials. The study involved a comparison with the C-S-H gel forming in a Portland cement paste. The structure of the C-A-S-H gels in AAS pastes depends on the nature of the alkali activator. When the activator is a NaOH, the structure of the C-S-H gel falls in between tobermorite 1.4. nm with a mean chain length of five, and tobermorite 1.1. nm with a mean length of 14. When waterglass is the activator the structure of the C-A-S-H gel is indicative of the co-existence of tobermorite 1.4. nm with a chain length of 11 and tobermorite 1.1. nm with a chain length of 14. This very densely packed structure gives rise to excellent mechanical properties.
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