Accelerating strength development through pozzolanic activity in hydrated fly-ash cement using plasma-activated water
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Plasma technology is an innovative approach to improving the properties of cementitious materials. This study investigated the effects of Plasma-Activated Water (PAW) on the compressive strength and pozzolanic activity of cement paste at 3, 7, 28, and 56 days, with varying levels of fly ash (FA) replacement. PAW, with highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in a stable form of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), significantly accelerates the pozzolanic activity of FA, leading to improvements in compressive strength, especially at higher FA replacement levels (30 %). This enhancement is attributed to the accelerated formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H), as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray diffraction, and Differential Thermal Analysis, which revealed greater portlandite consumption and increased C–S–H formation in the PAW mixtures. Additionally, Synchrotron X-ray tomographic Microscope analysis showed a significant reduction in porosity in the PAW samples, highlighting its potential to optimize FA performance in cementitious activity. These findings suggest that plasma-activated water is a promising technique for enhancing the use of FA in concrete applications.
Institutions: Chiang Mai University, Sungkyunkwan University
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,640
OpenAlex ID: W4409534783