The type of activator has a significant impact on the performance of alkali-activated slag, and there is little research on the effect of activator type on the high-temperature performance of alkali-activated slag. The effects of activator type on the thickening time, compressive strength, and rheological properties of alkali-activated slag under a high-temperature condition were studied in this article. Six activators were designed using Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3, and Na2SO4 and their combination. The results show that there are obvious differences for the thickening time, compressive strength, and rheological properties of alkali-activated slag with different activators. In addition, the effect of activator type on AAM performance at elevated temperatures is distinct from that observed at room temperature. Among alkali-activated slag with six different activators, Ca(OH)2-Na2SO4-activated slag has the best performance by considering the properties of thickening time, strength, and rheology under high temperatures. The low alkalinity of Na2SO4, producing NaOH by the reaction of Ca(OH)2 and Na2SO4, and the reaction rate of Ca(OH)2 and Na2SO4 can easily be controlled by the retarder, which may be responsible for the excellent performance of Ca(OH)2-Na2SO4-activated slag.
© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.