Hydration and Mechanical Properties of High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete with Nano-Silica and Silica Fume

This study investigated the effects of nano-silica (NS) and silica fume (SF) on the hydration reaction of high-volume fly ash cement (HVFC) composites. In order to solve the dispersibility problem caused by the agglomeration of NS powder, NS and NSF solutions were prepared. NS content and SF content were used as main variables, and an HVFC paste was prepared in which 50% of the cement volume was replaced by fly ash (FA). The initial heat of hydration was measured using isothermal calorimetry to analyze the effects of NS and SF on the initial hydration properties of the HVFC. In addition, the compressive strength was analyzed by age. The refinement of the pore structure by the nanomaterial was analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results show that the addition of NS and SF shortened the setting time and induction period by accelerating the initial hydration reaction of HVFC composites and improved the compressive strength during the initial stage of hydration. In addition, the micropore structure was improved by the pozzolanic reaction of NS and SF, thereby increasing the compressive strength during the middle stage of hydration.