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. 2025 Apr 23;18(9):1912.
doi: 10.3390/ma18091912.

Structure Formation and Properties of Activated Supersulfate Cement

Leonid Dvorkin  1 , Vadim Zhitkovsky  1 , Izabela Hager  2 , Tomasz Tracz  2 , Tomasz Zdeb  2
Affiliations

Structure Formation and Properties of Activated Supersulfate Cement

Leonid Dvorkin et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

The article investigates the characteristics of the phase composition and structure of supersulfated cement (SSC) during hardening using X-ray, electron microscopy, and ultrasonic analysis methods. The influence of different types of activators, hardening accelerators, and superplasticizers on the type and morphology of the newly formed phases during SSC hardening was studied. The effect of a polycarboxylate-type superplasticizer and calcium chloride on the standard consistency and setting times of SSC was experimentally determined. It was established that the introduction of the superplasticizer reduces the standard consistency by 10-16%. Experimental data showed higher effectiveness of phosphogypsum as a sulfate activator compared to gypsum stone. The strength increase of SSC at 7 days reached up to 35%, and at 28 days, up to 15%. Based on the kinetics of ultrasonic wave propagation during SSC hardening, the main stages of structure formation and the influence of cement composition on these stages were determined. The experimental results demonstrate the effect of SSC composition on its standard consistency, setting time, and mechanical properties. The impact of the type of activator and admixtures on the change in SSC strength during storage was investigated. It was found that the addition of a polycarboxylate-type superplasticizer significantly reduces the strength loss of SSC during long-term storage. Using mathematical modeling, experimentally obtained statistical models of strength were developed, which allow for the quantitative evaluation of individual and combined effects, as well as the determination of optimal SSC compositions.

Keywords: X-ray; activation; admixture; electron microscopy; experimental–statistical model; superplasticizer; supersulfated cement; ultrasonic analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
X-ray images of hardened binder: 1–8 compositions and duration of hardening of SSC according to Table 4.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Microphotographs of different sections of hardened SSC paste (magnification ×1000): 1—BFGS (85%) + PG (10%) + PC (5%) at days; 2—GBFS (85%) + PG (10%) + PC (5%) at 180 days; 3—BFGS (82.6%) + PG (10%) + PC (5%)+ PCE (0.4%) + CaCl2 (2%); 4—BFGS (88%) + PG (10%) + CaO (2%); 5—BFC (100%); 6—BFGS (85%) + GS (10%) + PC (5%).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between ultrasound velocity (Vus, m/s) in SSC paste of standard consistency and curing times: 1—W/C = 0.26 (SSC with 10% gypsum); 2—W/C = 0.28 (SSC with 15% gypsum); 3—W/C = 0.22 (SSC with 10% gypsum; 0.4% PCE + 2% CaCl2); 4—W/C = 0.26 (SSC with 10% gypsum stone).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Compressive strength after 28 days with the duration of previous storage of the binder.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The influence of grinding fineness in combination with other factors on strength SSC (designation according to Table 7).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Relationship between the strength of sulfate–slag binders and the consumption of CaCl2 (x2) and PC (x1), the content of the additive CaF2 = 1% (x3 = 0).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Relationship between the strength of sulfate–slag binders and the consumption of additives CaF2 (x3) and CaCl2 (x2), lime content 1% (x3 = 0).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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