Pozzolanic activity of calcinated low-grade natural sepiolite and its influence on the hydration of cement

Abstract In this study, the pozzolanic activity of low-grade natural sepiolite was enhanced by calcination for further utilizing as a supplementary cementitious material. Sampled sepiolite was calcinated at 400, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 °C, and the calcinated sepiolite were characterized and respectively blending with pastes for examining their rheological and hydration behaviors. It was found the pozzolanic activity of sepiolite was maybe mainly determined by the active Si phase content, and 800-SP showed the highest pozzolanic activity. The rheological behaviors of fresh paste blended with sepiolite calcinated at different temperatures shows obviously different. In early curing stage, the addition of sepiolite obviously accelerated the cement hydration. But in later curing stage, comparing with U-SP, the calcinated sepiolite showed hindering effect on cement hydration, and this effect was obviously regular with the increasing calcinated temperature. Additionally, by comparing with all pastes blended with sepiolite, which blended with 800-SP showed the highest compressive strength values.