The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar

Li, Baoliang; Li, Jie; Li, Yue; Shang, Hongrui; Yu, Haohang; Huo, Binbin; Liu, Yuyi

doi:10.3390/gels12020110

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The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar

by

Baoliang Li

^1,2,*

,

Jie Li

¹,

Yue Li

¹,

Hongrui Shang

¹,

Haohang Yu

¹,

Binbin Huo

^2,3

and

Yuyi Liu

¹

Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223001, China

²

Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Construction Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China

³

School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Gels 2026, 12(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020110

Submission received: 1 January 2026 / Revised: 20 January 2026 / Accepted: 23 January 2026 / Published: 27 January 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Applications of Advanced Geopolymer Gel Materials)

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Abstract

To investigate the mechanism by which ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) affects the performance of steam-cured cementitious materials, this study systematically analyzes the effect of GBFS on the mechanical strength and hydration products of mortar by adjusting the GBFS content (0%, 20%, 30%, 50%), curing temperature (50 °C for 7 h, 80 °C for 7 h), and curing time (3 d, 28 d). The results show that although increasing the steam-curing temperature can improve the strength activity index of GBFS-containing mortar, higher temperatures tend to induce later-age strength retrogression in such mixtures. Steam-curing not only promotes the massive formation of calcium hydroxide with coarse crystals but also increases the initial Ca/Si ratio of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels, which is a crucial factor contributing to the high susceptibility of steam-cured concrete to brittle fracture; however, the incorporation of GBFS can effectively mitigate this issue. Furthermore, under the steam-curing condition of 80 °C, the addition of GBFS facilitates the formation of hydrogarnet and delayed ettringite, which is unfavorable for the long-term strength development and durability improvement in concrete.

Keywords: GBFS; steam-cured cement mortar; mechanical properties; hydration products

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MDPI and ACS Style

Li, B.; Li, J.; Li, Y.; Shang, H.; Yu, H.; Huo, B.; Liu, Y. The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar. Gels 2026, 12, 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020110

AMA Style

Li B, Li J, Li Y, Shang H, Yu H, Huo B, Liu Y. The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar. Gels. 2026; 12(2):110. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020110

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Baoliang, Jie Li, Yue Li, Hongrui Shang, Haohang Yu, Binbin Huo, and Yuyi Liu. 2026. "The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar" Gels 12, no. 2: 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020110

APA Style

Li, B., Li, J., Li, Y., Shang, H., Yu, H., Huo, B., & Liu, Y. (2026). The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar. Gels, 12(2), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020110

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The Effect of GBFS on the Mechanical Properties and Hydration Products of Steam-Cured Cement Mortar

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