The effect of fly ash on the hydration of cements at low temperature mixed and cured in sea-water

The use of fly ash as a partial replacement in cements is widespread because of reduced costs and the reported improvement in performance. Fly ash/cement blends have been used offshore for underbase grouting of gravity platforms, although the cold marine exposure may slow the pozzolanic reaction which is very sensitive to temperature. Sea-water could be used as mixing water under these conditions. This paper looks at how curing at 80C, the use of sea-water as mixing water, and direct exposure to sea-water, influence the hydration, strength and microstructural development of an OPC and an SRPC with 30% fly ash replacement. The early heat evolution was measured with a conduction calorimeter, while the presence and development of hydration products were identified by DTA, TG and x-ray analysis. Scanning electron microscopy was used in two modes; secondary electron images of fracture surfaces were examined, and a quantitative description of microstructure was made possible by analysis of backscattered electron images of polished sections. The morphology and distribution of hydration products in the wet state was studied using an environmental cell in a high voltage electron microscope