Influence of Molybdenum Tailings Powder on the Hydration Characteristics of Cement Paste

Molybdenum tailings are accumulated in large quantities, occupying the land and polluting the environment. Therefore, the resource utilization of molybdenum tailings is imperative. In this paper, the influence of molybdenum tailings powder (MTs) as admixture on hydration characteristics, including hydration heat, hydration products, phase composition, and mechanical properties evolution of cement paste were investigated. Results showed that the early hydration of cement paste can be promoted when the content of MTs is not more than 15%. The compressive strength of cement paste with 15% MTs at 3, 28, and 120 days was 89.37%, 96.14%, and 91.68% of that of the portland cement (PC) group, respectively. When the content of MTs does not exceed 15%, the second exothermic peak of hydration heat of cement paste appears ahead of time and the peak value increases. With the increase of MTs content, the cumulative heat release of 72 h gradually decreased. The addition of MTs does not produce new hydration products, but introduces the mineral phase of MTs itself, and leads to the early transformation of ettringite (AFt) into monosulfoaluminate (AFm) in paste. There is still a close linear relationship between the compressive strength and cumulative heat release and chemically bound water content after addition of MTs into cement paste. It was also discovered that the pozzolanic activity of MTs in cement paste mainly occurred from 3 to 28 days. After 28 days, the particle-filling effect of MTs was dominant mainly. The research results are expected to provide basic research for the resource utilization of MTs.