Abstract
Surfactants, particularly air-entraining agents (AEAs), significantly influence the pore structure of concrete, thereby determining its durability performance, in which their role in alkali-activated slag (AAS) materials remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the foaming behaviour, rheological properties, and pore structure effects of four typical AEAs, in terms of alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS), didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), disodium lauroamphodiacetate (DSLA), decyl glucoside (DG), the representive anionic, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic AEAs, in NaOH-activated slag systems. Results indicated that AOS exhibited the strongest foaming capability, while DSLA demonstrated excellent foam stability across various environments. AEAs notably enhanced paste fluidity; a 1.5% DSLA dosage increased fluidity to 227.5 mm and effectively reduced yield stress and plastic viscosity. However, DSLA and DG systems experienced bubble coalescence and delayed setting, whereas AOS maintained balanced bubble characteristics and suitable setting times. All AEAs reduced compressive strength, which further decreased with higher dosages. XCT further confirmed the crucial impact of pore characteristics on strength.
Keywords
alkali-activated slag; air-entraining agent; bubbling effect; rheology; X-ray computed tomography.
DOI
10.5703/1288284318105
Recommended Citation
Ren, Jun; Li, Tao; Tuo, Mintai; Cai, Yunhong; Wang, Dafu; and Mao, Jianghong, "Bubbling Effect of Air-entraining Agents in NaOH-activated Slag" (2025). International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures. 2.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/icdcs/2025/icc/2
Bubbling Effect of Air-entraining Agents in NaOH-activated Slag
Surfactants, particularly air-entraining agents (AEAs), significantly influence the pore structure of concrete, thereby determining its durability performance, in which their role in alkali-activated slag (AAS) materials remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the foaming behaviour, rheological properties, and pore structure effects of four typical AEAs, in terms of alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS), didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), disodium lauroamphodiacetate (DSLA), decyl glucoside (DG), the representive anionic, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic AEAs, in NaOH-activated slag systems. Results indicated that AOS exhibited the strongest foaming capability, while DSLA demonstrated excellent foam stability across various environments. AEAs notably enhanced paste fluidity; a 1.5% DSLA dosage increased fluidity to 227.5 mm and effectively reduced yield stress and plastic viscosity. However, DSLA and DG systems experienced bubble coalescence and delayed setting, whereas AOS maintained balanced bubble characteristics and suitable setting times. All AEAs reduced compressive strength, which further decreased with higher dosages. XCT further confirmed the crucial impact of pore characteristics on strength.
