Sodium silicate-activated slags have the potential to harden quickly, which limits their practical use in grouting and deep soil mixing works. The open time of grouts is defined as the time period when their rheological properties allow their storage, pumping, and injection into the soil. In this work, the impact of the H2O/Na2O ratio and two acids (citric and boric acid) on the reactivity and hardening rates of slag-based grouts was studied. The H2O/Na2O ratio had a minimal impact on the open time but prolonged the setting time, as observed by ultrasonic characterization. Both acids were effective in delaying the structuration time, as revealed by oscillatory rheology and reaction advancement; however, they caused a decrease in the elastic modulus. Adding the acids resulted in a decrease in the pH of the medium, which may be linked to the extended open time. The analysis of the ion concentration of Ca, Si, and Al disclosed the mode of action of the two retarders.
Keywords: alkali-activated slag; mechanical properties; organic acid; reaction advancement; set modifiers; viscoelastic properties; water content.