Kate M. Campbell Tyler Kane Richard K. Shoemaker Wil V. Srubar III Juan Pablo Gevaudan 2017 <div class="abstract svAbstract " data-etype="ab"><p id="sp0065">This paper investigates the early-age dynamics of mineral formation in metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements. The effects of silica availability and alkali content on mineral formation were investigated<span>&nbsp;</span><i>via</i><span>&nbsp;</span>X-ray diffraction and solid-state<span>&nbsp;</span>²⁹Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 2, 7, 14, and 28&nbsp;days. Silica availability was controlled by using either liquid- (immediate) or solid-based (gradual) sodium silicate supplements. Mineral (zeolitic) and amorphous microstructural characteristics were correlated with observed changes in bulk physical properties, namely shrinkage, density, and porosity. Results demonstrate that, while alkali content controls the mineralization in immediately available silica systems, alkali content controls the silica availability in gradually available silica systems. Immediate silica availability generally leads to a more favorable mineral formation as demonstrated by correlated improvements in bulk physical properties.</p></div> application/pdf 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.01.001 en Elsevier Mineralization dynamics of metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements article