Pore structure characterization of cement pastes blended with high-volume fly-ash

The pore structure of cement pastes incorporating fly-ash was evaluated during their hydration process through gravimetry method, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption (NAD) methods. The pore structure of samples is characterized by the total porosity, pore size distribution (PSD), pore internal surface area as well as characteristic pore sizes. The correlation between the hydration process and the formed pore structure is investigated. The results indicate that: (i) w/b ratios have determinant impact on all characteristics of pore structure; (ii) fly-ash replacement ratio can influence the pore structure significantly at early age but this influence becomes less important with sample age by fly-ash hydration process; (iii) the total porosity and specific surface area are well correlated with the chemical kinetics of hydration through hydration degree or the formed gel/space ratio but the critical pore size is rather independent on the chemical kinetics.