The hydration of tricalcium silicate in the presence of colloidal silica

Reactions of colloidal silica fumes with calcium hydroxide or hydrating tricalcium silicate (C₃S) have been studied using calorimetry, chemical analyses, and scanning electron microscopy. Silica fume reacts immediately with calcium hydroxide forming a colloidal calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) similar to that formed by the hydration of C₃S. When excess silica is present it reacts with C-S-H already formed to produce a new, highly polymerized C-S-H, having a very low C/S ratio (1.0). Silica fume accelerates the hydration of C₃S, reduces the amount of calcium hydroxide formed by reacting with it, and slightly lowers the C-S-H ratio of the C-S-H formed by hydration. When large amounts of silica fume are present the formation of calcium hydroxide may be entirely suppressed and a highly polymerized C-S-H is formed. Silica fume is considered a good model for reactive pozzolans used in concrete.