The nature, sequence, crystallinity and microstructure ofhydrated phases were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resultsshowed that the formation of different hydrated phases was temperaturedependence. The physico-mechanical and microstructural characteristics wereinvestigated after curing at 20, 40 and 60_ C. The results indicated that forthe substitution of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) by air-cooled slag (AS) orwater-cooled slag (WS) at 20_ C, the compressive strength increases with slagcontent up to 10 wt.%, then followed by a decrease with further slagsubstitution up to 25 wt.%; but the values are still higher than those of theneat CAC pastes at different curing ages up to 60 days. After 28 days ofhydration at 40-60_ C, the compressive strength increases with the slagcontent. This is attributed to the prevention of the conversion reaction, whichwas confirmed by XRD, DSC and SEM techniques, and the preferential formation ofstratlingite (gehleinte-like) phase. The SEM micrographs showed a close textureof hydrated CAC/slag blends made with AS or WS at 40_C due to the formation ofC2ASH8 and C-S-H phases.
