Effects of accelerators and retarders in early strength development of concrete based on low-temperature-cured ordinary portland and calcium sulfoaluminate cement blends

Abstract

In this study, experiments were performed on the applicability of mortars and concretes based on calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) binders to facilitate the early strength development of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) under low-temperature conditions. An optimum mixture of CSA was evaluated to improve the early strength of OPC, and the effects of accelerators and retarders on this mixture were examined to demonstrate the applicability of the resulting concrete mixture. Furthermore, mixture applicability was validated by producing concrete at the Remicon Batcher plant and performing numerical simulations. As observed, the optimum CSA substitution rate for the realization of early strength was 17% of the total unit binder amount with CaO/SO3 and SO3/Al2O3 ratios of 1.9 and 1.25, respectively. Evidently, CSA in combination with Na2SO4 as an accelerator promoted the early strength of concrete with OPC and secured its constructability using additional retarders to control the quick setting of concrete. Additionally, the activation of initial hydration at low temperatures yielded a compressive strength of 5 MPa/12 h or higher for the resulting concrete mixture.