Magnesium　phosphate　cement　(MPC)　was　prepared　with　dead　burned　magnesia　oxide　(MgO),　potassium　di-hydrogen　phosphate　(KH2PO4)　and　some　retarders　in　a　given　proportion　used　in　the　same　manner　as　Portland　cement.　Factors　such　as　the　w/c　ratio,　casting　temperature　and　fly　ash　contents　that　affect　the　properties　of　MPC　were　studied　in　this　paper.　The　experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　setting　time　was　significantly　affected　by　the　w/c　ratio　and　casting　temperature.　Adding　fly　ash　can　increase　the　setting　time　and　flowability　of　fresh　MPC　paste.　The　compressive　strengths　of　MPC　paste　prepared　using　various　w/c　ratios　were　measured　at　ages　of　3　h,　1　d,　7　d　and　28　d.　The　3-,　7-　and　28-day　compressive　strengths　of　MPC　mortar　prepared　using　various　fly　ash　contents　were　also　measured.　The　compressive　strength　of　MPC　paste　decreased　with　an　increasing　w/c　ratio,　and　the　aged　compressive　strengths　of　MPC　mortar　increased　with　increasing　fly　ash　content.　The　results　also　indicate　that　adding　fly　ash　can　improve　the　water　resistance　and　dry　shrinkage　of　MPC　mortar.　Finally,　the　hydrate　products　were　analyzed　using　XRD　and　SEM.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.