New insights into the reaction of tricalcium silicate (C3S) with solutions to the end of the induction period
Journal article, 2022

Although dissolution theory is widely used, in certain circumstance, it seems to be unable to explain the hydration of C3S. In this article, more attention is paid to the nucleation of hydration products. We find that the precipitation of C-S-H is a nonclassical nucleation process. It starts with nucleation of primary particles and then grows by particle attachment. A sharp increase in the reaction rate after induction period may come from the accelerating growth rate of C-S-H instead of dissolution of etch pits. The duration of induction period relates to the size of primary floc. Potassium salts influence the primary globule floc size and mitigate the effect from Al. The pH impacts ion species in solution to affect the dissolution and precipitation. A hypothesis regarding the dissolution of C3S and nucleation of C-S-H within the near-surface region may narrow the gap between dissolution theory and protective layer theory.

Hydration

Nucleation

C3S

Induction period

Particle attachment

Author

Liming Huang

Tongji University

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Technology

Luping Tang

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Technology

Haitao Gu

Tongji University

Zhen Li

Tongji University

Zhenghong Yang

Tongji University

Cement and Concrete Research

0008-8846 (ISSN)

Vol. 152 106688

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Geochemistry

DOI

10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106688

More information

Latest update

12/17/2021