The purpose of this international conference is to present the latest scientific and technical information in the field of supplementary cementitious materials and novel binders for use in concrete. The new aspect of this conference is to highlight advances in the field of alternative and sustainable binders and supplementary cementitious materials, which are receiving increasing attention from the research community. The conference was held in Montréal, Canada from October 2 to 4, 2017. The conference proceedings, containing 50 refereed papers from more than 33 countries, were published as ACI SP-320.

Alinite cement which was developed in 1970s is an alternative inorganic, low-energy binding material in which chlorine containing wastes can be utilized. Although potentially a suitable candidate, there is little research on utilization of soda sludge waste in cementitious systems. In this experimental study, synthesis and optimization of the properties of alinite cement by using soda sludge waste as a raw material was carried out by investigating optimum calcination temperature and calcination duration, chemical and mineralogical compositions, and hydration products. When raw meal was calcined at 1150oC for 2 hours, the resulting clinker contained alinite, belite, and calcium aluminochloride phases with sufficiently low free calcium oxide and alkali content. Upon hydration of ground alinite cement clinker and gypsum mixture, peaks of portlandite, Friedel’s salt-like phase, and calcium chloride silicate sulfate were distinguished in X-Ray diffractograms. Compressive strength tests of alinite cement mortars gave satisfactory results.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the autogenous shrinkage of alkali-activated slag/fly ash (AASF) mortar blends. A series of tests was performed to determine the effect of type and dosage of activators on autogenous shrinkage deformation. Heat progression in AASF systems was characterized by means of isothermal calorimetry. The reaction products of alkali-activated slag/fly ash (Class F) blends was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD). From those results, two main phases (C-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels) are detected in slag/fly ash blended systems and with increase in fly ash content, the amount of the C-A-S-H gel decreases and the amount of N-A-S-H gel increases. Test results show that the slag/fly ash mass ratio, type and dosage of activator are the significant factors influencing the autogenous shrinkage and rate of reaction in AASF system. With increasing fly ash content and decrease in activator-to-cementitious materials ratio, the autogenous shrinkage (up to 7 days) of the AASF system decreases.

The present study aimed at investigating the degree of fly ash reaction and porosity up to 12 months of aging for cement paste specimens internally activated by natural injection of NaOH solution and those internally cured by injection of deionized water 1 month after casting, to assess the positive effect of internal alkali activation. In addition, reference specimens were fabricated with no solution injection. Two replacements of cement by fly ash were 0% (Fa0) and 40% (Fa40) by mass. Degree of fly ash reaction in Fa40 internally activated by NaOH solution was higher than that in Fa40 internally cured by water or no solution. Injection of solution decreased the volume proportion of pores ranging 0.02–0.33 μm (7.87 × 10-7–1.29 × 10-6 in.) to total pores and increased that of pores ranging 0.003–0.02 μm (1.18 × 10-7–7.87 × 10-7 in.) in Fa40, more than that of wno solution up to 12 months. Meanwhile, those volume proportions in Fa0 were only affected significantly by injection of solution at 12 months. Consequently, it can be concluded that pozzolanic reaction of fly ash was accelerated in cement paste internally activated by NaOH solution.

Studying the mechanisms affecting the very early age hydration as well as the microstructure of cementitious materials is essential to improve concrete performance. Consequently, it is necessary to monitor and understand the early age hydration process. In this work, continuous acoustic emission (AE), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and capillary pressure monitoring has been applied on consolidated and non-consolidated cement paste to study the process of hydration mechanism as well as the formation of the microstructure. Preliminary experiments have presented a large rate of AE activities in the fresh state. Ultrasonic tests exhibited an increase of pulse velocity during hydration while capillary pressure and heat evolution were also monitored. The purpose of this study is to verify the sensitivity of AE to follow the ongoing processes in fresh cementitious material and the possibility to contribute to a better monitoring of the process as an additional tool.