The use of superfine particles has been found to be a
promising
method for accelerating cement hydration. Amorphous aluminum hydroxide
(AH3) is a key hydration product in sulfoaluminate cements
and our preliminary research work indicated that the ultrafine amorphous
AH3 accelerates the hydration rate of sulfoaluminate cement-based
grouting materials (SAGMs). However, the ultrafine AH3 tends
to agglomerate easily, which affects its effectiveness. In this study,
aluminum hydroxide-polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer (AH3-PCE) ultrafine composites were prepared using the sol–gel
method, and their effect on the hydration and hardening process of
SAGMs was investigated. The results showed that the particle size
of the AH3-PCE ultrafine composites decreased and then
increased with increasing amount of PCE and there was a strong interaction
of AH3 with PCE through the oxygen atoms of C–O–C.
AH3-PCE ultrafine composites provided nucleation for the
growth of bayerite and ettringite (AFt). Moreover, the AH3-PCE ultrafine composites released aluminum ions and PCE in an alkaline
solution at pH 12.5. The AH3-PCE ultrafine composites promoted
cement hydration, adjusted the pore structure of the hardened paste,
and improved the compressive strength at all ages owing to the synergistic
effect of nucleation, aluminum ions, and PCE released from the AH3-PCE ultrafine composite.