Mineralogical and microstructural changes in alkali-activated and hybrid materials exposed to accelerated leaching

Alkali-activated materials (AAM) and hybrid cements (HC) have become sustainable alternatives to Portland cement (PC) due their low carbon footprint. The main differences between AAM HC lie in content of clinker (none the usually lower than 30% for HCs) type activator used (strong alkaline solutions small amounts solid alkalis HC). Durability problems related with microstructural changes decalcification leaching cementitious paste been well researched PC pastes, but it is still not known HC. present work aims study process pastes both types pastes. Blast furnace slag (BFS) was selected as a precursor manufacture (HS) alkali-activated (AAS) A commercial CEM IV reference material. 6 M NH4NO3 solution accelerate kinetics. After 28 days immersion, mineralogical were evaluated. Results show that AAS exhibited highest resistance all under study, absence portlandite high level polymerization silicate chains. In HS presence (due material) gypsum activator) explains intermediate performance, AAS.