a Department of Civil Engineering University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
b Department of Ceramic Engineering University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
Abstract:
The influence of admixtures and curing temperature on silicate polymerization during the hydration of alite was studied. Trimethylsilyl derivatives were separated by gel permeation chromatography. The major species identified in the hydrated pastes were dimer, linear pantamer, and linear octamer; at later ages, particularly at higher temperature, higher polymers are formed. A polymerization scheme is proposed. The effect of admixtures on silicate polymerization exactly parallels their effects on hydration.