Effect of wet milling activation on mechanical properties and hydration process of cement composites with blast furnace slag

In this study, blast furnace slag (BFS) was activated using water- and ethanol-assisted milling (AM). BFS-cement composites (BFS-CC) were prepared using milled BFS and cement. The effects of the activation process on the mechanical properties and hydration of BFS-CC were investigated. Results showed that water- and ethanol-AM significantly reduced the median particle size (D50) and improved the particle size distribution of BFS compared to dry milling. Water-AM increased the compressive strength of BFS-CC at 3 days by 19.9 % and decreased the compressive strength at 28 days by 6.7 %. While ethanol-AM increased the compressive strengths at 3 and 28 days by 17.2 and 22.4 %, respectively. Water-AM improved the early strength of BFS-CC, whereas ethanol-AM contributed significantly to the late strength development of BFS-CC. This study provides an effective and convenient method for regulating the mechanical properties of cement composites containing high-volume BFS.