Improvement of the performance of alkali activated blast furnace slag mortars with very finely ground pumice

This work investigates the strength and durability of alkali activated blast furnace slag mortars (AAS) with very finely ground pumice (P) at certain rates. BFS was used instead of cement at the rate of 60% and 80%. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) alkalis were added as solution into the mixture. First stage Na2O 6, 7 and 8 wt% of the BFS was added. Better results were obtained from the strength values of the sample containing 8% Na2O. Because of this result, in the second stage, pumice was used instead of 5% and 10% of the BFS. However, silicate modules (M-S = SiO2/Na2O) in both experimental studies were calculated as 0.5, 0.75 and 1.00. The durability values of the AAS + P samples were better than those of the reference samples. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.