The effect of in-house synthesized hydrogels with different chemical compositions on the properties of alkali-activated slag pastes was examined. It was found that the teabag test and modified teabag test as a direct method and the flow test as an indirect method showed a similar trend in hydrogel absorption; however, the absorption values differ noticeably between the direct and indirect methods. The alkali-activated slag pastes with hydrogels demonstrated a significant reduction in autogenous shrinkage compared to the pastes without hydrogels. The creation of macrovoids by the hydrogels and change in pore structure resulted in a decrease in compressive strength and electrical resistivity of the pastes with hydrogels. The absorption and desorption of hydrogels in the pastes were tracked using X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and it was shown that the onset of hydrogel desorption approximately coincided with the final setting time of the pastes.
Keywords: AAS; absorption; hydrogels.