Improving capillary water absorption of high-volume fly ash mortar by curing temperature and limestone addition

Abstract

The effects of curing temperature (20°C, 40°C and 60°C) and the addition of limestone powder (LP) (6% and 12%) on the capillary water absorption (CWA) of high-volume fly ash (HVFA) cement mortar were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis and tests for chemically bound water content (CBWC), compressive strength and porosity were also conducted. It was found that, for a fly ash (FA) content exceeding 30%, the CWA increased significantly. When the FA content was 50%, the curing temperature was raised to 40°C or the LP content was 12%, the CBWC increased greatly. Increasing the curing temperature or adding LP increased the compressive strength and decreased the porosity of the HVFA cement mortar. Prediction of the water penetration depth in the HVFA cement mortar was consistent with the CWA results. The results of this work indicate that an increase in curing temperature or the addition of LP could be an efficient way of improving the CWA performance of HVFA cement mortar.