A conceptual design of two-stream alkali-activated materials

To properly control the reaction kinetics and fresh properties evolution in conventional alkali-activated materials (AAMs), a conceptual design of two-stream AAMs has been proposed in this study. This is achieved by dividing the solid and liquid components in AAMs, including blast furnace slag (BFS) and electric arc furnace slag (EFS) precursors, as well as aqueous sodium hydroxide and silicate activators into two separate streams A and B, where a very limited reactivity is expected in individual streams to ensure sufficient workability retention. Moreover, a final-stage intermixing is required to combine individual stream mixtures and trigger the major activation reaction. Fresh and hardened properties of combined mixtures were checked at different stages. The microstructure and reaction products were investigated to understand the strength development. Low dynamic rheological parameters and good workability retention have been detected in all individual stream mixtures, accompanied by limited exothermic heat flows after the initial dissolution confirmed by calorimetry tests. Further, Portland cement (PC) is partially blended into stream A to alter the early stiffening process in combined mixtures and meet various setting demands after intermixing. However, this might lead to a reduction in mechanical properties, associated with the formation of porous microstructures and an increase in the Ca/Si ratio in reaction products. Eventually, the conceptual design is validated in different scenarios including self-compacting and 3D-printing concrete applications.