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Quantitative X‐ray diffraction analysis was used to study the early hydration of the tricalcium silicate and β‐dicalcium silicate phases in neat Portland cement pastes. There is an initial ‘dormant’ period during which these phases hydrate only very slowly. In the case of the Ca3SiO5 phase in the cement used, this ‘dormant’ period lasts 3–4 hours. Of the Ca3SiO5 originally present 5% hydrated in 5 h; 22% in 10 h; 34% in 15 h; 45% in 24 h; and 63% in 72 h. No conclusive evidence of any β‐dicalcium silicate hydration during the seventy‐two hour period investigated was found.

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