Two substitution levels of Portland cement by silica fume (SF; 30 and 50 mass%) and three hydrothermal treatment regimes (0.5, 1.2, and 2 MPa and 165, 195, and 220 °C for 7 days, respectively) were selected for the investigation of high-temperature phase formation. A combination of thermogravimetric, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared analyses in the mid-IR region was used to overcome the shortcomings of individual techniques for the identification of these complex systems. Changes in molecular water amounts, the polymerization degree of silicate chains, or their decomposition due to transformations and crystallization of phases at hydrothermal conditions were observed and discussed concerning composition. Contrary to the calciochondrite, hydrogrossular phases, α-C₂SH, and jaffeite detected in the systems without SF, a decrease in CaO/SiO₂ ratio resulted in the formation of stable tobermorite in the case of 30 mass% SF, whilst calcium hydrogen silicate, gyrolite, and cowlesite were identified as more thermally stable phases in the samples with 50 mass% SF.

In this paper, the composition and properties of two different activated calcinated clays were investigated under selected curing conditions. The tendency of metabentonite and metakaoline to form geopolymers and zeolites was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and DSC techniques, PXRD, HT-PXRD, SEM, and BET-N₂ adsorption analyses. The selection of the optimal sample compositions was done on a basis of preliminary results obtained from bentonite and kaolin clays activated at calcination temperatures (700, 750, 800 °C) with a holding time of 3 h in a combination with different NaOH concentrations (5, 10, 20 mass%). In a more detailed examination, the samples calcined at a temperature of 800 °C with different NaOH concentrations were studied. For metakaolin-based samples, dominant geopolymer formation was achieved using 5 mass% NaOH. The zeolite amount increased concomitantly with the concentration of the alkali activator, whereas zeolite A and zeolite P were determined as the predominant phases. For metabentonite-based samples, 10 mass% NaOH concentration was found to be optimal by the means of geopolymer formation. At higher alkaline activator concentrations, the presence of zeolitic phases faujasite and gobbinsite was confirmed. However, the determined degree of crystallinity was significantly lower than in the corresponding activated metakaolin samples. With a gradual increase in NaOH concentration, the specific surface area of the metabentonite-based samples increased reaching a value of 218.95 m² g⁻¹ promising for adsorption applications. The opposite effect was observed for the metakaolin-based samples, and this result is caused by the increased formation of zeolite phases and corresponding changes in their channel dimensions.

The paper describes the mechanical behavior of fine recycled concrete aggregate (FRCA) concrete according to the mineral admixtures. Three types of the mineral admixtures, i.e., fly ash (FA), ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and silica fume (SF), are used and the replacement ratios of FRCA are 50% and 100%. The dosages of the admixtures of FA, GGBS, and SF are determined with the normal dosage (30%, 40%, and 5.0%, respectively) based on the ACI committee reports (No. 232, 233, and 234) and half-normal dosage. The mechanical performance is investigated with the compressive and splitting tensile strength, and elastic modulus. Additionally, the total porosity is measured in natural fine aggregate (NFA) and FRCA 100% replaced specimens by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) for investigating the relationship with the compressive strength. Based on the experimental test results, the mineral admixtures improve the mechanical performance of FRCA concrete. The effective dosages of FA, GGBS, and SF for FRCA concrete are investigated according to the replacement ratio of the FRCA. In particular, FRCA 100% replaced concrete may be possible to be used for the structural concrete members with the specific dosage of the mineral admixtures. The prediction of the splitting tensile strength and the elastic modulus by the codes or previous formulas exhibits underestimated and overestimated results, respectively. The relationship between the total porosity and the compressive strength of the FRCA concrete should be modified with more experimental tests.