Research Progress of Slag Structure and Hydration Activity

Slag is widely used as mineral admixtures in cement-based materials by its potential hydration activity. It has the advantage of saving resources and energy, reducing carbon emission, improving the performance of concrete, and plays an increasingly important role in the building materials industry. But the early strength of slag is low, and the industrialization of useful hydration products also need to be activated, so the utilization rate of slag in high grade cement is restricted. The hydration activity of slag depends not only on the content of vitreous in slag, but also on the structure of vitreous slag. To explore slag glass micro composition and structure of its active role, The slag micro-structure was analyzed from the structure levels, and then the factors affecting the activity of slag was evaluated. The potential advantages and disadvantages of some different methods to active slag were discussed such as physical ways, chemical activation method and compound activation way. The existing problems and development direction of improving the activity of slag were summarized , which could provide a valuable reference for the efficient use of slag.