The effect of binary pozzolan mix on the mineralogical changes in the ternary activated paper sludge–fly ash–Ca(OH)2 system

This paper presents for the first time the influence of mixing different thermally activated paper sludges (APS) and fly ash (FA) on the pozzolanic reaction kinetics in APS–FA–Ca(OH)2 systems as a previous step to manufacture the future commercial ternary blended cements. In this study, two paper sludge wastes from different origins and activation conditions (laboratory (LS) and industrial (IS) scale) have been investigated, once mixed with fly ash at a ratio of 1:1 by weight. The results indicated that binary blends of pozzolans exhibited a high pozzolanic activity, showing that the hydrated phases produced during the pozzolanic reaction depend on the origin and activation conditions of clay wastes. At all times of reaction, the predominant phase turn out to be the LDH structures when LS pozzolan was used; meanwhile for the IS pozzolan the C4ACH12 along with the LDH were the main phases during the first 28 days.