Puertas, F.Palacios, M.Manzano, H.Dolado, J. S.Rico, A.Rodríguez, J.2024-07-242024-07-242011-10-15Puertas , F , Palacios , M , Manzano , H , Dolado , J S , Rico , A & Rodríguez , J 2011 , ' A model for the C-A-S-H gel formed in alkali-activated slag cements ' , Journal of the European Ceramic Society , vol. 31 , no. 12 , pp. 2043-2056 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.04.0360955-2219https://hdl.handle.net/11556/3216For 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.14enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccessjournal article10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.04.036Atomistic modellingCementsMechanical propertiesMicrostructure-finalSpectroscopyCeramics and CompositesMaterials Chemistryhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959240838&partnerID=8YFLogxK