Effects of fluorogypsum and flue-gas desulfurization gypsum on the hydration and hardened properties of alkali slag cement

Abstract

In order to explore the influence of the types of waste gypsum on the properties of alkali slag cement, fluorogypsum (FG) and flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum were comparatively investigated. Moreover, the action mechanisms of FG and FGD gypsum on the properties of alkali slag cement were analyzed. The results show that both the FG and FGD gypsum prolonged the setting time of the alkali slag cement paste. However, the prolongation effect of FG was more pronounced than the FGD gypsum. When the compressive strength was maximum, the contents of FG and FGD gypsum were 5 and 6 wt.%, respectively. At 3 and 28 days, compared to the control sample, the compressive strengths increased by 59.3% and 24.3%, and 66.9% and 33.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the XRD, TG-DTA and SEM-EDS results showed that, with the increase in the contents of FG and FGD gypsum, ettringite was more easily produced and the hydration products were more abundant in the system. The greater the gypsum content of the paste, the less accumulated was the heat of hydration. The change of micro-structure caused by the formation of ettringite was the main reason for the difference in the properties of cement.