Influence of Size-Classified and Slightly Soluble Mineral Additives on Hydration of Tricalcium Silicate

Abstract

Early-age hydration of cement is enhanced by slightly soluble mineral additives (ie, fillers, such as quartz and limestone). However, few studies have attempted to systematically compare the effects of different fillers on cementitious hydration rates, and none have quantified such effects using fillers with comparable, size-classified particle size distributions (PSDs). This study examines the influence of size-classified fillers [ie, limestone (CaCO3), quartz (SiO2), corundum (Al2O3), and rutile (TiO2)] on early-age hydration kinetics of tricalcium silicate (C3S) using a combination of experimental methods, while also employing a modified phase boundary and nucleation and growth model. In prior studies, wherein fillers with broad PSDs were used, it has been reported that between quartz and limestone, the latter is a superior filler due to its ability to partake in anion-exchange reactions with C-S-H. Contrary to prior investigations, this study shows that when size-classified and area matched fillers are used -- which, essentially, eliminate degrees of freedom associated with surface area and agglomeration of filler particulates -- the filler effect of quartz is broadly similar to that of limestone as well as rutile. Results also show that unlike quartz, limestone, and rutile -- which enhance C3S hydration kinetics -- corundum suppresses hydration of C3S during the first several hours after mixing. Such deceleration in C3S hydration kinetics is attributed to the adsorption of aluminate anions -- released from corundum's dissolution -- onto anhydrous particulates' surfaces, which impedes both the dissolution of C3S and heterogeneous nucleation of C-S-H.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Second Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Center for Research in Energy and Environment (CREE)

Comments

Funding for this study was provided by the National Science Foundation (CMMI: 1661609 and CMMI: 1932690). All experiments and simulations were conducted at the Materials Research Center, Missouri S&T.

Keywords and Phrases

Cement Hydration; Corundum; Filler; Limestone; Nucleation and Growth; Rutile

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0002-7820; 1551-2916

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 The American Ceramic Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2020

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