Effect of M/P and Borax on the Hydration Properties of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement Blended with Large Volume of Fly Ash

The effect of the borax content and magnesia to phosphate ratio (M/P) on the hydration properties of the magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) with large volume of fly ash was investigated, and a five-hydration-stage for MKPCs was proposed. The results show that MKPC sets rapidly with less than 8% of borax, which is unfavorable to the application of MKPC on construction. Adding more than 8% (including 8%) of borax results in a secondary hydration peak for MKPC, in which the process of hydration can be divided into five stages, namely, pre-induction period, induction period, acceleration period, deceleration period and stable period. M/P ratios could not change the multi-step reactive stages but higher M/P ratios could accelerate the hydration. Borax tends to impact the formation of Mg-containing hydrated products.