Abstract
Studies on the modification of the hydration
products of fly ash (FA), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and fly
ash-β-cyclodextrin (FA-β-CD) composite cement paste
samples as hydration progressed were done using X-ray diffraction
analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy. This paper investigates the
effect of FA, β-CD and FA-β-CD composite on the hydration
and pozzolanic reactions. It was evident from all the
analyses that β-CD improved the hydration reaction from
the 7 day hydration period, while improvement on pozzolanic
reaction was revealed from the 28 day hydration
period. The study contributed to the knowledge of FA performance
as a composite with cyclodextrin and promoted
the continued inclusion of FA in concrete.