Differences in Electrical Properties of Portland Cement and Alkali-Activated Slag Mortars

Abstract

Alkali-activated slag is known as a building material for more than sixty years and is considered an alternative to Portland cement based binders. Compared to Portland cement it exhibits some superior properties such as higher resistance against chemical attack and exposure to elevated temperatures. Aluminosilicate binders are generally electrical insulators; however, electrical properties of building materials gain the importance in the new field of applications such as self-sensing or self-heating materials. This paper brings a comparison of the electrical properties, especially resistance and capacitance, between Portland cement and alkali-activated slag mortars. The measurements revealed that alkali-activated slag shows enhanced conducting properties due to the presence of mobile hydrated sodium ions and metallic iron microparticles.