A study of the microstructure and hydration characteristics of tricalcium silicate in the presence of calcium chloride

The morphological and hydration characteristics of tricalcium silicate treated with 0, 2 and 5 per cent calcium chloride were followed by employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and X-ray diffraction techniques. The water: solid ratios used were either 0.5 or 0.3. In terms of Ca(OH)₂ estimation CaC?₂ accelerated hydration, except with 5 per cent CaC?₂ at a 0.3 w/s ratio. The maximum amount of Ca(OH)₂ and calcium silicate hydrate was formed at 2 per cent CaC?₂ and a w/s ratio of 0.5. Except at very early times, the rate of reaction was slower at 0.3 w/s with or without CaC?₂ compared with the corresponding samples at 0.5 w/s.