Characterization of Pozzolanic Reaction and Its Effect on the C-S-H Gel in Fly Ash-cement Paste

High resolution solid-state 29Si MAS NMR,combined with XRD,SEM and FTIR were used to characterize the pozzolanic activity of FA,type of main pozzolanic reaction products,and the effect of pozzolanic reaction on the C-S-H microstructure in fly ash-cement (FC) paste.The experimental results indicate that in the hydrated FC paste with 30% dosage of FA at 3 d,FA partially participated in the pozzolanic reaction,while,at 120 d,FA largely reacts.During the hydration of FC paste at laboratory temperature,the pozzolanic reaction products are C-S-H gel rather than zeolitic gel.Moreover,after the covalent bonds of Si-O-Si,Si-O-Al and Al-O-Al in the structure of FA are broken,monosilicates Si-OH and Al-OH groups form,these chemical species can connect C-S-H dimers,thus producing more Al-free C-S-H and aluminous C-S-H than in the plain cement paste.The increased content of Al for Si substitution in the bridging tetrahedra of C-S-H may decrease the stability of C-S-H,which results in a rather obvious loss in the mechanical strength of hardened FC paste.