feasibility of design one-part sodium silicate activated metamontmorillonite-limestone cements

This study evaluated the potential of calcined montmorillonite as a primary precursor for one-part alkali-activated cement incorporated with a high percentage of limestone. comparative studies on the properties of the sodium silicate-activated metakaolin-limestone and meta montmorillonite-limestone fresh and hardened cement pastes depending on several formulation and processing parameters (precursor nature, dosages of limestone and alkali reactant, curing conditions) showed that meta montmorillonite exhibits reactivity comparable to that of metakaolin in the studied cement systems. the mechanical performance of optimal alkali-activated cement formulations consisting of 20- 30% of meta montmorillonite and 70- 80% of limestone is provided by both the reactivity of meta montmorillomite under sodium silicate activation and the filler, nucleation, and chemical effects of the raw limestone. the reaction products and microstructures of alkali-activated meta montmorillonite-limestone cement-based hardened pastes were investigated using thermal, xrd, and sem/eds analyses.