Evaluation of fresh state, rheological properties, and compressive strength performance of cementitious system with grinding aids

Abstract

Grinding aids (GA) affect the fresh and hardened state properties of cement systems in addition to the economic and ecological advantages they provide. Nevertheless, there is not enough information in the literature regarding the effect of GA utilization on the rheological properties of cementitious systems. In this study, the effect of different types of GA utilization on the grinding efficiency, setting time, and physical properties of cement and rheological properties of cement paste was investigated. Besides, adsorption of the water-reducing admixture (polycarboxylate ether [PCE]) to the cement containing GA was investigated by total organic carbon analysis. According to the results, regardless of the type of GA, while the grinding efficiency was positively affected by GA utilization in cement, the adsorption degree of PCE, some fresh and rheological properties of the mixtures were negatively affected. With the use of GA, an increase was observed in the early age compressive strength of mortar mixtures. Consequently, the properties of cementitious systems containing GA should be taken into consideration to assess GA performance in addition to the grinding efficiency.