Hydration Characteristics and Hydration Products of Tricalcium Silicate Doped with Superplasticizer and Silica Fume

Abstract

By using XRD, isothermal microcalorimetry, ESEM, EDS, NMR, the effects silica fume and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PC) on the hydration behavior of tricalcium silicate (C3S) paste were researched. The results show that: PC suppresses the hydration of C3S while silica fume promotes the hydration of C3S by consumption of generated Ca(OH)2. Both PC and silica fume change the morphology of hydration products C-S-H gel from needle-bar-like to reunion-like, along with the polymerization state of silicon-oxygen tetrahedron varied greatly. Especially silica fume significantly affects Q1, Q2 percentage of silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.

Regulating the arm structure of star‐shaped polycarboxylate superplasticizers as a means to enhance cement paste workability

“…The properties of hardened cement are determined by cement hydration product and its structure . Moreover, the performance of cement paste can be enhanced by PCE.…”

“…The microstructure of hydrated cement can also be affected by PCE during the hydration process . Ding and coworkers reported the suppressed effects of PCE on the hydration behavior of tricalcium silicate (C 3 S) paste but did not describe the overall properties of the cement paste.…”