Impact of sand and filler materials on the hydration behavior of calcium aluminate cement

In earlier work, we have observed discrepancies relating to the early hydration of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) when comparing data from heat flow calorimetry of CAC paste with results from mortar strength tests using the crushing method. Here, we investigated on this phenomenon and found that the sand which is used as a filler exerts a major influence on CAC hydration resulting in acceleration. Furthermore, in particular fine filler materials such as, for example, microsilica, fine limestone powder, and especially α- and γ-Al₂O₃ also produced a strong hydration accelerating effect which is dependent on their specific surface area. The mechanism underlying the acceleration is that under alkaline conditions their negative surface charge attracts calcium ions as was confirmed via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission measurements. Such a layer generates favourable conditions for the nucleation of CAC hydration products (C-A-H phases). The resulting crystalline hydrates which form on the surface of the filler particles submerged in CAC cement pore solution were visualized via SEM imaging. This way, specifically selected fillers can significantly accelerate CAC hydration and save precious lithium salts which are commonly used to boost the early strength of CAC.     

Effect of blended inorganic salts containing negative hydration ions on hydration and properties of alkali-activated slag cement

Water glass (WG) is generally considered to be the most effective activator to prepare alkali-activated slag (AAS) cement in terms of strength and durability. However, the rapid setting and hardening of WG activated slag results in rapid loss of fluidity of AAS concrete mixture, which limits its engineering application. In the paper, the effect of blended inorganic salts containing negative hydration ions on the fluidity, setting time and mechanical strength of AAS cement was studied. The hydration process and hydration products were used to explore the action mechanism. Ba(NO₃)₂ greatly delayed the hydration of AAS cement. The four inorganic salts (KCl, KNO₃, KBr and NaCl) blended with a small amount of Ba(NO₃)₂ can improve both the initial fluidity and fluidity retention, and a wide setting time range can be obtained to meet engineering requirements. The compressive strength decreased with the increase of inorganic salts. The incorporation of inorganic salt did not change the composition of the main hydration products. Considering the fluidity required by construction, mechanical properties and the durability of structure, it is recommended to add 4%–5% KBr or KNO₃ blended with no more than 0.2% Ba(NO₃)₂ into AAS cement.     

Accelerated growth of calcium silicate hydrates: Experiments and simulations

Despite the usefulness of isothermal calorimetry in cement analytics, without any further computations this brings only little information on the nucleation and growth of hydrates. A model originally developed by Garrault et al. is used in this study in order to simulate hydration curves of cement obtained by calorimetry with different known hardening accelerators. The limited basis set of parameters used in this model, having a physical or chemical significance, is valuable for a better understanding of mechanisms underlying in the acceleration of C–S–H precipitation. Alite hydration in presence of four different types of hardening accelerators was investigated. It is evidenced that each accelerator type plays a specific role on one or several growth parameters and that the model may support the development of new accelerators. Those simulations supported by experimental observations enable us to follow the formation of the C–S–H layer around grains and to extract interesting information on its apparent permeability.     

Parameters controlling early age hydration of cement pastes containing accelerators for sprayed concrete

The objective of this work is to parametrize the early age hydration behavior of accelerated cement pastes based on the chemical properties of cement and accelerators. Eight cements, three alkali-free and one alkaline accelerators were evaluated. Isothermal calorimetry, in situ XRD and SEM imaging were performed to characterize kinetics and mechanisms of hydration and the microstructure development. The reactivity of all accelerators is directly proportional to their aluminum and sulfate concentrations and to the amount and solubility of the setting regulator contained in cement. Alite hydration is enhanced if a proper C₃A/SO₃ ratio (between 0.67 and 0.90) remains after accelerator addition and if limestone filler is employed, because undersulfated C₃A reactions are avoided. Combinations of compatible materials are recommended to enhance the performance of the matrix and to prevent an undesirable hydration behavior and its consequences in mechanical strength development.     

Working mechanism of calcium nitrate as an accelerator for Portland cement hydration

Precast concrete, cold weather concreting, and the emerging technique of concrete additive manufacturing are applications in which the acceleration of cement hydration plays a critical role. To allow precise control of early cement hydration in these applications, a thorough understanding of the working mechanisms of cement hydration accelerators is required. This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanism by which calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) influences early cement hydration. The influence of Ca(NO₃)₂ on the hydration of an ordinary Portland cement has been followed by isothermal calorimetry, in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), quantitative XRD, compressive strength testing, and the analysis of the pore solution composition. Further, the initial pore solution, the initial phase composition, and the phase composition in the fully hydrated cement have been estimated by thermodynamic calculations to corroborate the experimentally obtained results. The results indicate that Ca(NO₃)₂, especially at the highest analyzed dosage of 5 wt.%, enhances the formation of ettringite and a nitrate-containing AFm phase. Furthermore, Ca(NO₃)₂ accelerates alite hydration. Besides the increased Ca concentration in solution, it has been found that a reduction of the Al concentration in the initial pore solution by Ca(NO₃)₂ possibly contributes to the accelerating effect of Ca(NO₃)₂ on alite hydration.     

Influence of citric acid on the hydration of Portland cement

Citric acid can be used to retard the hydration of cement. Experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of citric acid on the composition of solid and liquid phases during cement hydration. Analyses of the solid phases showed that dissolution of alite and aluminate slowed down while analyses of the pore solution showed that citric acid was removed almost completely from the pore solution within the first hours of hydration. The complexation of the ions by citrate was weak, which could also be confirmed by thermodynamic calculations. Only 2% of the dissolved Ca and 0.001% of the dissolved K formed complexes with citrate during the first hours. Thus, citric acid retards cement hydration not by complex formation, but by slowing down the dissolution of the clinker grains. Thermodynamic calculations did not indicate precipitation of a crystalline citrate species. Thus, it is suggested that citrate sorbed onto the clinker surface and formed a protective layer around the clinker grains retarding their dissolution.     

Influence of inorganic salts on the hydration of tricalcium silicate

The influence of various chlorides and potassium salts on the hydration of alite (3CaO·SiO₂ solid solution) has been studied by conduction calorimetry and an explanation based on diffusion experiments in hardened Portland cement is presented. The mechanism of the action of inorganic electrolytes on cement hydration was also investigated. In hardened Portland cement the diffusion rate of the Cl^? ion was greater than that of the coexisting cations. The accelerating effect of inorganic electrolytes was dependent mainly on the mobility of anions. The higher the anion mobility, the greater was the accelerating effect on the hydration. It is shown that the hydration of alite is a topochemical reaction and that the rate of hydration of alite is controlled by the rate of the dissolution of Ca²⁺ or OH^? ions into a liquid phase. It is concluded that the dissolution of OH^? ions from the hydrate layer around the cement particle is increased when the reciprocal diffusion action of the anion accelerates the hydration.     

The filler effect: The influence of filler content and type on the hydration rate of tricalcium silicate

The partial replacement of ordinary portland cement (OPC) by fine mineral fillers accelerates the rate of hydration reactions. This acceleration, known as the filler effect, has been attributed to enhanced heterogeneous nucleation of C‐S‐H on the extra surface provided by fillers. This study isolates the cause of the filler effect by examining how the composition and replacement levels of two filler agents influence the hydration of tricalcium silicate (T1‐Ca₃SiO₅; C₃S), a polymorph of the major phase in ordinary portland cement (OPC). For a unit increase in surface area of the filler, C₃S reaction rates increase far less than expected. This is because the agglomeration of fine filler particles can render up to 65% of their surface area unavailable for C‐S‐H nucleation. By analysis of mixtures with equal surface areas, it is hypothesized that limestone is a superior filler as compared to quartz due to the sorption of its aqueous CO₃^2? ions by the C‐S‐H—which in turn releases OH^? species to increase the driving force for C‐S‐H growth. This hypothesis is supported by kinetic data of C₃S hydration occurring in the presence of CO₃^2? and SO₄^2? ions provisioned by readily soluble salts. Contrary to prior investigations, these results suggest that differences in heterogeneous nucleation of the C‐S‐H on filler particle surfaces, caused due to differences in their interfacial properties, have little if any effect on C₃S hydration kinetics.     

The effect of inorganic salts on tricalcium silicate hydration

Hydration of C₃S in salt solutions having ions in common with its hydration products was investigated by calorimetry and aqueous phase analyses. Soluble calcium salts, which depress hydroxyl ion concentrations in solution by promoting Ca(OH)₂ precipitation, were observed to accelerate hydration. Acceleration did not occur prior to Ca(OH)₂ precipitation. A saturated CaSO₄ solution, which delayed Ca(OH)₂ precipitation, was initially retarding but subsequently accelerated hydration as the hydroxyl ion concentration in solution decreased. Of the solutions investigated, a 0.2M CaCl₂ solution was the most effective in depressing the hydroxyl ion concentration and caused the greatest acceleration.     

纳米C-S-H对矿粉-水泥体系水化的影响

C-S-H是通用硅酸盐水泥主要的水化产物,对水泥基材料的性能起着十分重要的作用,但水泥水化产物复杂,难以从水化产物中分离出纯净的C-S-H并研究其对水泥基材料的影响。故本文通过双分解法制备了纳米C-S-H(NC)颗粒,并将其掺入矿粉-水泥体系中,通过无接触式电阻率测定仪、X射线衍射仪、差热分析仪(DSC-TG)、扫描电镜、压汞测试仪(MIP)等探究了NC对矿粉-水泥体系水化的影响。研究发现,在1%~4%(质量分数)掺量范围内,掺入NC可缩短基体的凝结时间,并为水泥早期水化提供更多的活性位点,加速水化产物的形成和沉淀,促进水化产物之间的搭接,从而降低了基体孔隙率并使基体早期强度和水化浆体电阻率均有所提升。     

A soft X-ray microscope investigation into the effects of calcium chloride on tricalcium silicate hydration

Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) is one of the most recognized and effective accelerators of hydration, setting, and early strength development in portland cement and tricalcium silicate (C₃S) pastes. The mechanisms responsible for this acceleration, as well as the microstructural consequences, are poorly understood. Soft X-ray transmission microscopy has recently been applied to the study of cementitious materials and allows the observation of hydration in situ over time. This technique was applied to the examination of tricalcium silicates hydrating in a solution containing CaCl₂. It appears that CaCl₂ accelerates the formation of “inner product” calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) with a low-density microstructure.     

碱性和无碱液体速凝剂促凝早强作用机理对比研究

碱性和无碱速凝剂掺入水泥后的水化机理不同,导致应用性能存在明显差异。本文通过测试凝结时间和砂浆抗压强度等宏观性能对比了两种速凝剂的应用性能,并通过水化放热分析、XRD定量分析、热重分析和SEM微观形貌观察等微观方法综合分析了两者的早期水化历程。结果表明:碱性速凝剂加入水泥后,[Al(OH)₄]^-加快了水泥中石膏的消耗速度,水化初期生成大量钙矾石(AFt),促进了硅酸三钙(C₃S)矿物的水化,缩短了水泥浆体的凝结时间并提高了砂浆的早期抗压强度,但石膏的加速消耗也使得单硫型水化硫铝酸钙(AFm)和水化铝酸钙(C-A-H)等水化产物提前生成,影响了水泥基材料的后期抗压强度发展;无碱速凝剂加入水泥后,[Al(OH)₄]^-和SO^2-₄在液相中生成了大量AFt,促进了铝酸三钙(C₃A)和C₃S矿物的水化,影响了氢氧化钙(CH)的结晶析出。值得注意的是,SO^2-₄不仅促进了C₃A生成AFt的过程,也延缓了水泥中石膏的消耗及AFm和C-A-H等产物的生成,因此无碱速凝剂的加入除了明显提高早期抗压强度外,后期28 d抗压强度也不受影响。     

The effect of lead nitrate on the early hydration of portland cement

Solution analysis, calorimetry and electron microscopy have been used to study the retarding effect of Pb(NO₃)₂ admixtures on the early stages of hydration of Portland cement. Analyses of cement filtrates show rapid precipitation of basic lead compounds incorporating nitrate and sulphate. The precipitation is accompanied by an increase in the early heat liberation followed by a longer term retardation. Microscopy shows that the precipitate is largely in colloidal gelatinous form and coats the surfaces of the cement grains. The protective effect of these coatings is clearly responsible for the inhibition of hydration.     

Direct preparation of battery-grade lithium carbonate via a nucleation–crystallization isolating process intensified by a micro-liquid film reactor

With the lithium-ion battery industry booming, the demand for battery-grade lithium carbonate is sharply increasing. However, it is difficult to simultaneously meet the requirements for the particle size and the purity of battery-grade lithium carbonate. Herein, the nucleation–crystallization isolating process (NCIP) is applied to prepare battery-grade lithium carbonate without any post-treatment procedure. The nucleation process is intensified by a micro-liquid film reactor (MLFR), where the feedstock solution is subject to intensive shear force and centrifugal force. The feedstock solutions are mixed rapidly and a large number of nuclei form instantly in the MLFR. After nucleation, the crystallization process is achieved in another reactor. A few new nuclei form in the crystallization process. The nucleation intensification in the MLFR is verified by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental results. The particle size distribution is narrower and the impurity residue in the products is far lower than that prepared by a traditional precipitation method. The effects of nucleation and crystallization on the particle size distribution and purity were investigated. In the optimized operation parameters, the particle size distribution of the Li₂CO₃ product is D₁₀ = 2.856 μm, D₅₀ = 5.976 μm, and D₉₀ = 11.197 μm, and the purity is 99.73%, both of which meet the requirements of battery-grade Li₂CO₃. Moreover, the lithium recovery rate is increased to 88.21% compared to that prepared by a traditional precipitation method (79.0%). This work provides an alternative way for the preparation of high-purity chemicals by process intensification.     

Effects of hydroxyethyl cellulose and oxalic acid on the properties of cement

Effects of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), oxalic acid and their binary mixtures {1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 (by mass)} on the properties of ordinary Portland cement have been studied using up to 4% admixtures. Variations in setting time, heat of hydration, strength, hardness and fracture toughness have been determined. FT-IR and XRD have been utilized to determine the phase compositions of the material. Corrosion resistance against H₂SO₄, HCl and seawater has been studied by determining the loss in mass of cement mortars. It was found that HEC acts as a retarder and oxalic acid as an accelerator. The binary mixture (1:3) has increased the heat of hydration, strength, hardness, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance. Interaction between HEC, oxalic acid and cement hydration products takes place, and new phases are formed in the presence of water, which lead to the formation of stronger bonds and the sealing of the pores in the resulting product causing decreased water absorption as compared to ordinary Portland cement.     

The effect of gyrolite additive on the hydration properties of Portland cement

The influence of gyrolite additive on the hydration properties of ordinary Portland cement was examined. It was found that the additive of synthetic gyrolite accelerates the early stage of hydration of OPC. This compound binds alkaline ions and serves as a nucleation site for the formation of hydration products (stage I). Later on, the crystal lattice of gyrolite becomes unstable and turns into C–S–H, with higher basicity (C/S ~ 0.8). This recrystallization process is associated with the consumption of energy (the heat of reaction) and with a decrease in the rate of heat evolution of the second exothermic reaction (stage II). The experimental data and theoretical hypothesis were also confirmed by thermodynamic and the apparent kinetic parameters of the reaction rate of C₃S hydration calculations. The changes occur in the early stage of hydration of OPC samples and do not have a significant effect on the properties of cement stone.     

The contact zone between portland cement paste and glass “aggregate” surfaces

The morphology of the contact zone developed between Portland cement paste and glass slide “aggregates” has been explored using SEM and other techniques. A duplex film of about 1 μm total thickness is rapidly deposited on the glass surface. This is a continuous film of Ca(OH)₂ overlain by a parallel array of rod-shaped CSH gel particles projecting normal to the interface. The nearby cement paste exhibits high porosity, but after a few days becomes partly filled with a secondary deposit of stacked platelets of relatively pure Ca(OH)₂. Cement particles near the interface hydrate in a peculiar manner. A hydration product shell is quickly formed, but the encapsulated cement particles dissolve away to leave partly or completely empty shells. This behavior occurs with various Portland cement types and presumably occurs near aggregate surfaces in concrete.     

Filter dissolution of C3S as a function of the lime concentration in a limited amount of lime water

Flame adsorption spectrometry analysis was conducted for filtrates obtained by passing a limited amount (10 ml) of solvent (distilled water or lime water at various lime concentrations) through 1 g of C₃S spread on a millipore filter (0.1 μm). Results showed that the ratio of lime concentration ncrease to that of silica [ΔC/S]_? was always between 3.5 and 4. This ratio was maintained with increasing lime concentration in the solvent although ΔC decreased from the value $\text{(? 0.005}\text{mol. kg}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ obtained with pure water. When these experimental values were recorded on the lime-silica-water diagram, a curve S = f(C) could be drawn delineating the supersaturated domain boundary for hydrosilicates, below which their nucleation rate was strongly decreased.The results have been interpreted by assuming congruent dissolution of C₃S_sh (superficially hydrolyzed by protonization), followed by the precipitation of CSH from the supersaturated solution, according to the Le Chatelier mechanism. A plot allows comparison of this mechanism with the “topochemical” assumption and shows that the latter is unlikely. Thus a distinction should be made between “C₃S hydration” the major part of which occurs through surface hydroxylation and “hydrate precipitation” i.e. CSH of ratio [C/S]_s < 3.     

The hydration of Portland cement,C3S and C2S in the presence of a calcium complexing admixture (EDTA)

The effect of EDTA, a calcium chelating agent, on the early hydration of Portland cement, C₃Sand β-C₂S has been studied by solution analysis and electron microscopy. EDTA is a retarded of cement hydration. Under normal conditions of hydration, the silica levels in solution are very low (<0.05 M) but in the presence of EDTA an initial flush of silica appears in the bulk aqueous phase. On continued hydration, following the saturation of EDTA with calcium, the appearance of ‘free’ calcium causes precipitation of C-S-H gel from the bulk solution and changes in microstructure of the colloidal gel around clinker particles in C₃S and β-C₂S pastes are observed. The action of EDTA as a retarding admixture is explained in terms of the membrane model of cement hydration.     

Time dependent driving forces and the kinetics of tricalcium silicate hydration

Simulations of tricalcium silicate (C₃S) hydration using a kinetic cellular automaton program, HydratiCA, indicate that the net rate depends both on C₃S dissolution and on hydration product growth. Neither process can be considered the sole rate-controlling step because the solution remains significantly undersaturated with respect to C₃S yet significantly supersaturated with respect to calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). The reaction rate peak is attributed to increasing coverage of C₃S by C–S–H, which reduces both the dissolution rate and the supersaturation of C–S–H. This supersaturation dependence is included in a generalized boundary nucleation and growth model to describe the kinetics without requiring significant impingement of products on separate cement grains. The latter point explains the observation that paste hydration rates are insensitive to water/cement ratio. The simulations indicate that the product layer on C₃S remains permeable; no transition to diffusion control is indicated, even long after the rate peak.