Effect of Cement Paste Preparation Procedure and Cement Stone Age on its Phase Composition

Abstract

Self-levelling and self-consolidating concrete mixtures formed with the use of superplasticizers are worthwhile for the manufacture of reinforced concrete structures. It is important to evenly distribute not only the mixing water in the system, but also the dissociated plasticizer ions for cement dispersed compositions with plasticizing additives. It is established that the optimal sequence of loading and mixing of the components of a cement composition is not only a promising direction for intensifying the manufacture of concrete building structures, but also a tool for improving the mechanical properties of cement brick and concrete made on its basis, as well as for increasing its durability and reliability. When superplasticizers are introduced into the pre-ground cement paste, the rheological properties of the compositions are improved, as well as the structure of the hardened composites. The given article is devoted to the study of the effect of the procedural factor and the duration of mixing of highly concentrated cement compositions with the addition of a superplasticizer based on naphthalene sulfonic acid (SP C-3) on the phase composition of hardened composites during various periods of hydration. Experimental results were obtained using the X-ray phase analysis method. Tested are 15 series of samples of cement stone with W/C ratio range between 0,18 and 0,27 and SP C-3 between 0 and 1.0 % by cement weight. Comparing the phase composition of cement stone after 28 days of hardening with that of 4,5 years, it was found that at first the C3SH2 phase, particularly enriched with calcium oxide, is formed, which decays over time and disappears in the 4,5-year hardening amples.