Impact of hydration stoppage on quantification of the GGBS content in ternary limestone cements using the PONKCS method

Abstract Most supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are predominantly poorly-crystalline or amorphous. Their reactivity is routinely evaluated through SEM image analysis (SEM/IA), which a laborious and resource intensive technique. Quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) provides an alternative, facilitating simultaneous evaluation of reaction kinetics phase assemblages. However, QXRD requires relevant model structures, lacking for amorphous phases. In this study, we use the Phases No Known Crystal Structures (PONKCS) method to calibrate ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) assess robustness in quantifying GGBS content synthetic hydrated ternary blended CEM I-GGBS-limestone cements. Implications sample preparation, particular hydration stopping methods on quantification was measured via external standard method. Subsequently, results compared with SEM/IA calculations, based backscattered images magnesium maps. Robustness calibrated PONKCS demonstrate without stopping. absorption by cements must be accounted attenuation co-efficient calculation. Freeze-drying destroyed water-rich assemblages led overestimation contents.