Important Characteristics of Mineral Admixtures

Classification

Chemical composition

Particle characteristics

Cementitious and pozzolanic

1.Granulated blastfurnace slag (cementitious)

Mostly silicate glass containing mainly calcium,

magnesium, aluminium, and silica. Crystalline
compounds of melilite group may be present in small
quantity.

Unprocessed material is of sand size and contains 1015%

moisture. Before use it is dried and ground to particles less
2
than 45 m (usually about 500 m /kg Blaine). Particles
have rough texture.

2.High-calcium fly ash

(cementitious
and pozzolanic)

Mostly silicate glass containing mainly calcium,

magnesium, aluminium, and alkalies.

Powder corresponding to 1015% particles larger than 45

2
m (usually 300400 m /kg Blaine). Most particles are solid
spheres less than 20 m in diameter. Particle surface is
generally smooth but not as clean as low-calcium fly ashes

Highly active pozzolans

1.Condensed silica
fume

Consist essentially of pure silica in non-crystalline form

Extremely fine powder consisting of solid spheres of 0.1 m

average diameter

2.Rice husk ash

Consist essentially of pure silica in non-crystalline form

Particles are generally less than 45 m but they are highly

2
cellular (4060 m /g surface area by nitrogen adsorption)

Mostly silicate glass containing aluminium, iron, and

alkalies. The small quantity of crystalline matter present
generally consists of quartz, mullite, sillimanite,
hematite, and magnetite.

Powder corresponding to 1530% particles larger than 45

2
m (usually 200300 m /kg Blaine). Most particles are solid
spheres with average diameter 20 m.

2.Natural materials

Besides aluminosilicate glass, natural pozzolans

contain quartz, feldspar, and mica

Particles are ground to mostly under 45 m and have rough

texture.

Weak pozzolans
1.Slowly cooled blast-furnace
slag,
2.Bottom ash,
3.Boiler slag,
4.Field burnt rice husk ash

Consist essentially of crystalline silicate materials, and

only a small amount of noncrystalline matter

The materials must be pulverized

to very fine particle size in order to develop some
pozzolanic activity.
Ground particles are rough in texture

Normal pozzolans
1.Low-calcium fly ash