Influences of Ultrafine Slag Slurry Prepared by Wet Ball Milling on the Properties of Concrete

Abstract

The application of ultrafine ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) in concrete becomes widely used for high performance and environmental sustainability. The form of ultrafine slag (UFS) used in concrete is powder for convenience of transport and store. Drying-grinding-drying processes are needed before the application for wet emission. This paper aims at exploring the performances of concrete blended with GGBFS in form of slurry. The ultrafine slag slurry (UFSS) was obtained by the process of grinding the original slag in a wet ball mill, which was mixed in concrete directly. The durations of grinding were 20 min, 40 min, and 60 min which were used to replace Portland cement with different percentages, namely, 20, 35, and 50, and were designed to compare cement with original slag concrete. The workability was investigated in terms of fluidity. Microstructure and pore structure were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The fluidity of concrete mixed with UFSS is deteriorated slightly. The microstructure and early strength were obviously improved with the grind duration extended.