Effect of high-intensity ultrasound on reactivity of blast furnace slag and the microstructure of cement-based composites
1
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Submission date: 2026-06-08
Final revision date: 2026-08-18
Acceptance date: 2026-09-07
Publication date: 2026-09-29
Corresponding author
Paweł Lisowski
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
Cement Wapno Beton 30(6) 473-493 (2025)
KEYWORDS
high-intensity ultrasoundstockpiled blast furnace slagearly strengthcement mortarPCE superplasticizerSCM reactivityR3 test
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The paper presents results from comprehensive experimental investigations into the activation of stockpiled granulated blast-furnace slag [GBFS] by high-intensity ultrasound [HIU, 20 kHz, 700 W] in cementitious systems. The study covered cement pastes and mortars with 20 wt.% intermediate GBFS fraction [125–250 μm] replacement. The analytical programme comprised: isothermal calorimetry, R3 reactivity test [EN 196-12:2025], Strength Activity Index [SAI per ASTM C618], ICP-OES ion dissolution analysis, and mercury intrusion porosimetry [MIP]. The BFS fraction subjected to 10 min HIU achieves, in mortar, a 2-day compressive strength equivalent to 100 % Portland cement reference [SAI = 96–102 %]. Cumulative R3 heat release increases by 132 % [189 → 439 J/g BFS]. A 40-fold increase in dissolved Ca [ICP-OES] establishes cavitation-enhanced ion leaching as the primary activation pathway. MIP reveals total mortar porosity reduction from 21.8 % to 15.1 % [–31 %], with capillary pore fraction [>1000 nm] dropping from 8.2 % to 3.4 % [–59%]. Cross-system analysis yields, for the first time, a quantitative activation transfer coefficient: 44 % at 2 days and 80 % at 28 days.
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