This study aimed to investigate the chloride-binding capacity of alkali-activated fly ash (denoted as FSW) and slag (denoted as SSW) samples and their synthesized Cl-bearing phases, which are capable of binding and immobilizing chloride when seawater is used as the mixing water. This study also examined the progressive changes in the pore structures of the FSW and SSW samples over time. The results show that the SSW sample is significantly more effective in the uptake of chloride ions compared to the FSW sample at 28 days of curing. While the FSW sample forms Cl-bearing zeolites (Cl-chabazite and Cl-sodalite) (possibly with similar types of geopolymeric gels), the SSW sample synthesizes Cl-bearing, layered double hydroxides (LDH) (Cl-hydrocalumite and Cl-hydrotalcite). Although both samples involve Cl-binding phases, the FSW sample is likely to be less efficient because it largely produces zeolites (or similar geopolymeric gels) with no Cl-binding capability (i.e., zeolites X and Y). Meanwhile, the SSW sample produces Cl-bearing LDH phases as well as C-S-H(I), which can physically adsorb chloride. The SSW sample exhibits both pore-size refinement and porosity reduction over time, while the FSW sample only exhibits pore-size refinement. Therefore, the SSW system is more advantageous in the use of seawater because it more effectively prevents Cl ingression due to greater impermeability.

Monosulfoaluminate (Ca₄Al₂(SO₄)(OH)₁₂∙6H₂O) plays an important role in anion binding in Portland cement by exchanging its original interlayer ions (SO₄²⁻ and OH⁻) with chloride ions. In this study, scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the phase change of monosulfoaluminate due to its interaction with chloride ions. Pure monosulfoaluminate was synthesized and its powder samples were suspended in 0, 0.1, 1, 3, and 5 M NaCl solutions for seven days. At low chloride concentrations, a partial dissolution of monosulfoaluminate formed ettringite, while, with increasing chloride content, the dissolution process was suppressed. As the NaCl concentration increased, the dominant mechanism of the phase change became ion exchange, resulting in direct phase transformation from monosulfoaluminate to Kuzel’s salt or Friedel’s salt. The phase assemblages of the NaCl-reacted samples were explored using thermodynamic calculations and least-square linear combination (LC) fitting of measured XANES spectra. A comprehensive description of the phase change and its dominant mechanism are discussed.

Curing by CO₂ is a way to utilize CO₂ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Placing early-age cement paste in a CO₂ chamber or pressure vessel accelerates its strength development. Cement carbonation is attributed to the quickened strength development, and CO₂ uptake can be quantitatively evaluated by measuring CO₂ gas pressure loss in the pressure vessel. A decrease in CO₂ gas pressure is observed with all cement pastes and mortar samples regardless of the mix proportion and the casting method; one method involves compacting a low water-to-cement ratio mix, and the other method comprises a normal mix consolidated in a mold. The efficiency of the CO₂ curing is superior when a 20% concentration of CO₂ gas is supplied at a relative humidity of 75%. CO₂ uptake in specimens with the same CO₂ curing condition is different for each specimen size. As the specimen scale is larger, the depth of carbonation is smaller. Incorporating colloidal silica enhances the carbonation as well as the hydration of cement, which results in contributing to the increase in the 28-day strength.

The effect of CO₂ curing on alkali-activated slag paste activated by a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions is reported in this paper. The paste samples after demolding were cured in three different curing environments as follows: (1) environmental chamber maintained at 85% relative humidity (RH) and 25 °C; (2) 3-bar CO₂ pressure vessel; and (3) CO₂ chamber maintained at 20% CO₂ concentration, 70% RH and 25 °C. The hardened samples were then subjected to compressive strength measurement, X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetry. All curing conditions used in this study were beneficial for the strength development of the alkali-activated slag paste samples. Among the curing environments, the 20% CO₂ chamber was the most effective on compressive strength development; this is attributed to the simultaneous supply of moisture and CO₂ within the chamber. The results of X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry show that the alkali-activated slag cured in the 20% CO₂ chamber received a higher amount of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), while calcite formed at an early age was consumed with time. C-S-H was formed by associating the calcite generated by CO₂ curing with the silica gel dissolved from alkali-activated slag.