This paper presents results from experimental work on mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete, mortar and paste prepared using fly ash and blended slag. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength tests were conducted on large sets of geopolymer and ordinary concrete, mortar and paste after exposure to elevated temperatures. From Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) test results, the geopolymer exhibits excellent resistance to elevated temperature. Compressive strengths of C30, C40 and C50 geopolymer concrete, mortar and paste show incremental improvement then followed by a gradual reduction, and finally reach a relatively consistent value with an increase in exposure temperature. The higher slag content in the geopolymer reduces residual strength and the lower exposure temperature corresponding to peak residual strength. Resistance to elevated temperature of C40 geopolymer concrete, mortar and paste is better than that of ordinary concrete, mortar and paste at the same grade. XRD, TGA and SEM analysis suggests that the heat resistance of C–S–H produced using slag is lower than that of sulphoaluminate gel (quartz and mullite, etc.) produced using fly ash. This facilitates degradation of C30, C40 and C50 geopolymer after exposure to elevated temperatures.

Incorporating superabsorbent polymer (SAP), which has the abilities of absorption and desorption in concrete can achieve the effect of internal curing. The influences of the volume, particle size and ways of entrained water of SAP on the workability, compressive strength, shrinkage, carbonation resistance and chloride penetration resistance of concrete were analyzed through the macroscopic and microscopic test. The results show that pre-absorbed SAP can increase the slump of the mixture, but SAP without water absorption and pre-absorbed SAP with the deduction of internal curing water from mixing water can reduce the slump. The improvement effects of SAP on compressive strength of concrete increase gradually with the increase of age. Especially from 28 days, the compressive strength of concrete increases obviously. At later age, the compressive strengths of SAP concrete under natural curing environment exceed the strength of reference concrete under natural curing environment and nearly reach the strengths of reference concrete under standard curing environment. SAP effectively reduces the shrinkage of concrete, improves the concrete’s abilities of carbonation resistance and chloride penetration resistance. The microscopic test results show that SAP can effectively improve the micro structure and make the pore structure refined. When SAP is added into concrete, the gel pores and small capillary pores are increased, the size of big capillary pores and air pores are reduced.

In this study, the effect of curing temperature on the properties of slag cement concrete after high-temperature exposure was studied, and elevated curing temperature (45 ± 2 °C and 95% relative humidity (RH)) was selected to compare with the standard curing temperature (20 ± 2 °C and 95%RH). Four different concrete mixes with the same mix proportion, except for different slag replacement ratios, were used: 0% (reference), 30% (slag), 50% (slag), and 70% (slag). After high-temperature exposure at 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C, the effect of slag replacement, high temperature, and curing temperature on the compressive strength and mineralogical and microstructural properties of slag cement concrete were studied. Test results indicated that the compressive strength of concrete cured for 7 d at elevated temperatures increased by 28.2, 20.7, 28.8, and 14.7% compared with that cured at the standard curing condition at slag percentages of 0, 70, 50, and 30%, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed that concrete cured at elevated temperatures exhibited a more condensed phase and contained a higher percentage of hydrates than that cured for 7 d in the standard curing condition. However, after 56 d of curing, concrete in the standard curing condition exhibited a more stable phase and a higher concentration of hydrates.