Effect of Blast Furnace Slag and Nano-TiO2 Use on Rheological Properties of Cementitious Systems

Abstract
The rapid increase in waste production due to industrialization has become one of the most serious environmental challenges. Effective waste management that supports sustainable development plays a crucial role in reducing raw material consumption, minimizing environmental pollution, preserving natural resources and mitigating the impact on climate change. In concrete technology, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) particularly to reduce cement consumption, is a widely preferred approach due to its benefits in waste management management. However, the incorporation of waste materials may lead to performance reductions, prompting research into alternative solutions such as nanoparticle utilization. Blast furnace slag (BFS), which closely resembles cement in terms of its physical and chemical composition, is known to enhance strength and durability whilereducingporevolumethrough pozzolanic reaction. However, itseffecton the workability of cementitious systems variesdepending onbothitsdosageand fineness. This study aimsto investigate the effect of BFS and nano-TiO2 on the rheological properties and structural build-up of cementitious systems. For this purpose, six paste mixtures were prepared, incorporating15% and 30% BFS as well as 1% nano-TiO2 by weight of cement, in addition to the control mixture. The water-to-binder (w/b) ratio was kept constant as 0.35 for all mixtures. The dynamic yield stress, apparent viscosity and structural build-up of the mixtures were evaluated in comparison to the control mixture. The findings revealed that the incorporation of BFS and nano-TiO₂ together led to a reduction in rheological parameter values, with this effect becoming more pronounced as the BFS content increased Keywords – Blast Furnaceslag, Dynamic Yields Tress, Nano-TiO2, Structural Build-Up