Self-Similar Fractal Characteristics of Phosphorus Slag Powder Particles and its Effect on the Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Systems

Firstly, this paper used a laser particle size analyzer to test the particle size distribution characteristics of four specific surface areas of phosphate slag powder particles. Then, it used the powder fractal theory to determine the fractal dimension of the different specific surface areas of the phosphate slag powder particle group. Finally, the effect of the fractal dimension of the phosphate slag powder particle group on the mechanical strength and activity index of the phosphate slag powder-cement cementitious system at 3 d, 28 d, and 180 d ages were studied. The results showed that the phosphate slag powder with different specific surface areas has self-similar fractal characteristics; the larger the specific surface area of phosphate slag powder, the higher the fractal dimension, and the fractal dimension of phosphate slag powder particle can characterize the properties of phosphate slag powder’s fineness and particle gradation in the process of grinding and refining. The phosphorus slag powder particle fractal dimension, the mechanical strength, and activity index of the phosphorus slag powder-cement cementitious system have linear correlation characteristics; the larger the fractal dimension, the higher the mechanical strength and activity index of the cementitious system with phosphate slag powder.