Physical and Chemical Effects in Blended Cement Pastes Elaborated with Calcined Clay and Nanosilica

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are commonly used in the manufacture of commercial cements with lower clinker content and carbon footprints, enabling environmental and performance improvements. The present article evaluated a ternary cement combining 23% calcined clay (CC) and 2% nanosilica (NS) to replace 25% of the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) content. For this purpose, a series of tests were performed, such as compressive strength, isothermal calorimetry, thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XDR), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The ternary cement studied, 23CC2NS, presents a very high surface area, which influences hydration kinetics by accelerating silicate formation and causes an undersulfated condition. The pozzolanic reaction is potentialized by the synergy between the CC and NS, resulting in a lower portlandite content at 28 days in the 23CC2NS paste (6%) compared with the 25CC paste (12%) and 2NS paste (13%). A significant reduction in total porosity and conversion of macropores in mesopores was observed. For example, 70% of pores in OPC paste were macropores that were converted in the 23CC2NS paste into mesopores and gel pores.