Crystal Evolution of Calcium Silicate Minerals Synthesized by Calcium Silicon Slag and Silica Fume with Increase of Hydrothermal Synthesis Temperature

Abstract

In order to realize high-value utilization of calcium silicon slag (CSS) and silica fume (SF), the dynamic hydrothermal synthesis experiments of CSS and SF were carried out under different hydrothermal synthesis temperatures. In addition, phase category, microstructure, and micropore parameters of the synthesis product were analyzed through testing methods of XRD, SEM, EDS and micropore analysis. The results show that the main mechanism of synthesis reaction is that firstly β-Dicalcium silicate, the main mineral in CSS, hydrates to produce amorphous C–S–H and Ca(OH)2, and the environment of system is induced to strong alkaline. Therefore, the highly polymerized Si-O bond of SF is broken under the polarization of OH− to form (SiO4) of Q0. Next, amorphous C–S–H, Ca(OH)2 and (SiO4) of Q0 react each other to gradually produce various of calcium silicate minerals. With an increase of synthesis temperature, the crystal evolution order for calcium silicate minerals is cocoon-like C–S–H, mesh-like C–S–H, large flake-like gyrolite, small flake-like gyrolite, petal-like gyrolite, square flake-like calcium silicate hydroxide hydrate, and strip-like tobermorite. In addition, petal-like calcium silicate with high average pore volume (APV), specific surface area (SSA) and low average pore diameter (APD) can be prepared under the 230 °C synthesis condition.