Microscopic investigation on reaction products in relation to strength development
The stabilized soil sample SCM30, which had the optimum determined content of RHA replacement, was selected for further micro analysis of the reaction products compared with SCM00. The XRD analysis pattern of the stabilized soil is shown in Figure 6 for SCM00 and in Figure 7 for SCM30. Figure 6 identifies that the stabilized soil SCM00 consisted of the
reaction products calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), calcium hydroxide (CH), tri-calcium silicate hydrate (C3S), di-calcium silicate hydrate (C2S) together with a silica form as quartz (Qzt) and clay minerals content such as montmorilonite (Mont),
illite (Ilt) and kaolinite (Kao). It was found that the formation of the main products of the hydration reaction process (CSH and CH) increased with an increase in curing time while the formation of C3S and C2S gradually decreased with time. A
similar result was observed with SCM30 as shown