This paper summarizes the advantageous and disadvantageous properties of alkali-activated slag cement and concrete by reviewing previously published work in English, Russian and Chinese. Practical problems and theoretical questions are discussed. Topics for future work in this field are suggested. The practical problems mentioned are quick setting, the possibility of alkali—aggregate reaction, and the occurrence of efflorescence, shrinkage, microcracks and strength variation. The theoretical questions discussed concerning alkaline activation include the roles of the alkaline anion and cation, the nature of the hydration products, microstructural development and the setting and hardening mechanisms.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A general expression for the method of QXRPD without standards is given in this paper to solve the problem of phase analysis on samples containing a non-crystalline component. Its application to some specific cases is discussed. The experiments have proved successful in the analysis of cement and sand-lime samples. The technique may also be applicable for the analysis of fly-ash, glass, ceramics, and metals. It is especially convenient in the study of kinetics and mechanism of reactions when the chemical composition of all samples does not change, because it is not necessary to know the mass absorption coefficient of samples. In the mathematical treatment of non-linear equations given in this paper, a method called linearized iteration procedure is first presented by the author.