Pozzolanic Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials

As the number of potential supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) increase, there is a need to determine their reactivity. Most recent methods to assess pozzolanic reactivity are based on measuring certain outputs such as heat release (Q), calcium hydroxide (CH) consumption, and nonevaporable water. This paper uses thermodynamic modeling to aid in the interpretation of these tests and the quantification of reactivity. It is shown that pozzolanic reactivity should be interpreted based on the SCM type. The presence of sulfates and carbonates during reactivity quantification alter the reaction of the Al2O3 phases, making the interpretation of the reactivity test results challenging. The reactivity of commercial SCMs should be interpreted specific to the type of SCM as described by ASTM International/AASHTO. A proposed interpretation for commercial SCMs is provided in this paper.