Workability and Setting Time of Alkali Activated Blast Furnace Slag Paste

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of blast furnace slag paste activated by potassium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Reasonable workability and setting times were maintained. The workability was measured in terms of flow diameter. The loss of flow with time was also studied. The major parameters studied were water/binder ratio, alkali content, silicate content, slag/activator ratio, silicate modulus, and sodium silicate/potassium hydroxide ratio, and their effects on workability and setting time are presented. It was found that the workability and setting time of alkali activated ground granulated blast furnace slag paste are dependent basically on the alkali content, silicate content, and silicate modulus. Locally available blast furnace slag has been utilized, and its potential as source material has been verified. This information will be useful to manufacturers and researchers.