Effect of Nano AFt on Properties of Supersulfated Cement-Based Foam Concrete

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1128

Abstract

Abstract:

Supersulfated cement-based foamed concrete （SSC-FC） has broad application potential in the field of building energy conservation due to its lower carbon emissions and cost. However， its slow early hydration and insufficient formation of hydration products of SSC-FC result in poor pore-wall compactness， leading to inadequate mechanical properties and carbonation resistance， which significantly limit its engineering applications. In this study， nano ettringite （nano AFt） was incorporated to enhance the pore-wall structure of SSC-FC through its nucleation-induced effect. The influence of nano AFt content on the mechanical properties and carbonation resistance of SSC-FC was systematically investigated， and the mechanisms on hydration process， phase composition， and pore-structure evolution were analyzed using isothermal calorimetry， XRD， SEM. The results show that the incorporation of nano AFt accelerates early hydration and promotes the formation of AFt at the pore-wall interface， leading to a denser pore-wall structure. When the nano AFt content reaches 8%（mass fraction）， the 7 d compressive strength of SSC-FC increases from 1.26 MPa to 2.08 MPa， and the 28 d compressive strength increases from 2.37 MPa to 3.61 MPa. In addition， nano AFt refines the pore size distribution， reduces the pore coordination number， and decreases the number of connected pores， thereby restricting CO₂ transport. Under 1 d accelerated carbonation conditions， the sample with 8% nano AFt retains an uncarbonated region of 25 mm， and its carbonation coefficient increases from 0.88 to 0.92.

Key words: supersulfated cement, nano AFt, foam concrete, pore structure, pore wall, carbonation resistance

CLC Number:

TU528.2

ZHAO Hui, YAN Wei, JIA Shaozhen, LIU Yakun, WANG Lei, MENG Jiang, WANG Jun, ZHANG Miao. Effect of Nano AFt on Properties of Supersulfated Cement-Based Foam Concrete[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(6): 1947-1958.

Figures/Tables 16

Table 1 Main chemical composition of raw materials

Material	Mass fraction/%
Material	CaO	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	MgO	SO₃	Fe₂O₃	TiO₂	P₂O₅	LOI
GGBS	42.45	32.66	13.69	6.39	2.62	0.32	0.69	—	1.11
SS	40.83	14.24	3.89	5.57	0.48	26.75	0.62	1.48	4.15
PG	34.17	5.54	0.68	0.09	48.49	0.25	0.11	0.85	8.49

Fig.1 Phase composition and particle size distribution of nano AFt

Table 2 Mix ratio of foam liquid

Sample	Mass/g
Sample	PFA	AOS	XG	Nano AFt	Water
Blank	1.0	0.6	0.2	0	100
Nano AFt-2%	1.0	0.6	0.2	2.0	100
Nano AFt-4%	1.0	0.6	0.2	4.0	100
Nano AFt-6%	1.0	0.6	0.2	6.0	100
Nano AFt-8%	1.0	0.6	0.2	8.0	100

Table 3 Mix ratio of SSC-FC

Sample	Target density/（kg·m^-3）	Mass/g
Sample	Target density/（kg·m^-3）	PG	GGBS	SS	Water	PCE	Foam
Blank	800	148	385	59	207.2	1.8	23.36
Nano AFt-2%	800	148	385	59	207.2	1.8	25.58
Nano AFt-4%	800	148	385	59	207.2	1.8	26.74
Nano AFt-6%	800	148	385	59	207.2	1.8	28.03
Nano AFt-8%	800	148	385	59	207.2	1.8	29.01

Fig.2 Effect of nano AFt on carbonization depth of SSC-FC

Fig.3 Effect of nano AFt on carbonization coefficient of SSC-FC

Fig.4 Effect of nano AFt on density of SSC-FC

Fig.5 Effect of nano AFt on compressive strength of SSC-FC

Fig.6 Effect of nano AFt on hydration heat of SSC-FC

Fig.7 Effect of nano AFt on phase composition of SSC-FC

Fig.8 Effect of nano AFt on microstructure of SSC-FC

Fig.9 Effect of nano AFt on pore wall structure of SSC-FC

Fig.10 Effect of nano AFt on pore distribution （0~300 μm） of SSC-FC

Fig.11 Effect of nano AFt on pore distribution of SSC-FC

Fig.12 Effect of nano AFt on pore connectivity of SSC-FC

Fig.13 Effect of nano AFt on throat coordination number of SSC-FC

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