Research on the reaction kinetics of alkali-activated materials

The chemical reactions that occur during the preparation of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) were categorised into two interdependent processes (ion dissolution and ion polymerisation) in this study. The factors influencing the ion dissolution rate and the ion polymerisation rate were analysed separately. A dissolution kinetics equation was used to quantify the relationship between the dissolution rate and factors such as the fineness of the solid raw materials, pH and temperature. Similarly, a polymerisation kinetics equation was employed to quantify the relationship between the polymerisation rate and ion concentration, temperature and other relevant factors. The established reaction kinetics equations were then used to predict gel formation in AAMs at different curing ages. The computational results indicate that the reaction kinetics equations developed in this study can predict gel formation in AAMs at different curing ages with reasonable accuracy, using variables such as temperature, alkali concentration and the type of solid raw material as inputs. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the chemical reactions involved in the preparation of AAMs.