Cement

Part II
Portland Cement Hydration
 In Chemical terms hydration is a reaction of
anhydrous compound with water yielding a
new compound, a hydrate.

In cement chemistry hydration is understood

to be the reaction of a non-hydrated cement
or one of its constituents with water,
associated with both chemical and physic-
mechanical changes of the system, in
particular with setting and hardening.
Portland Cement is a multi-component system,
its hydration is a rather complex process
consisting of a series of individual chemical
reactions that take place both in parallel and
successively
 Hydration of Silicates
C3S and C2S react with water to produce an
amorphous calcium silicate hydrate known as
C-S-H gel and releasing lime as Calcium
Hydroxide Ca(OH)2
C3S is much more reactive than C2S under
temperature conditions of 20oC,
approximately half of the C3S present in a
typical cement will be hydrated by 3 days and
80% by 28days. The hydration of C2S does not
normally proceed to a significant extent until
approximately 14days.
 The C-S-H gel produced by both C3S and C2S
has a typical Ca to Si ratio of approximately
1.7.
C2S hydration also results in some CH
formation.
3CaO.SiO2 + (3+ m n)H2O = n CaO.SiO2.mH2O
+ ( 3 n) Ca(OH)2
C3S + 4.3H20 = C1.7SH3 + 1.3CH
C2S + 3.3H = C1.7SH3 + 0.3CH
 Hydration of C3A and C4AF
In the absence of soluble calcium sulfate C3A
reacts rapidly to form the phases C2AH8 and
C4AH19 which subsequently converts to
C2AH6. This is a rapid and highly exothermic
reaction. When finely ground gypsum
(CaSO4.2H2O) or hemihydrates (CaSO4.5H2O)
is blended with the C3A prior to mixing water
the initial reactions are controlled by
formation of a protective layer of ettringite(
Trisulfate) on the surface of the C3A crystals.
 Minor amounts of monosulfate or even C4AH19
may also be formed if an imbalance exists
between the reactivity of C3A and the dissolution
rate of calcium sulfate resulting in an insufficient
supply of Sulfate ions.
Therefore the more rapid dissolution of
dehydrated forms of gypsum ensures an
adequate supply of dissolved calcium and sulfate
ions and will be more effective in controlling the
reaction of C3A.
Many studies have shown that the hydration of
C4AF is similar to that of C3A but proceeds more
slowly.
 Hydration of Silicates
C3S and C2S react with water to produce an
amorphous calcium silicate hydrate known as
C-S-H gel.
C3S is much more reactive than C2S under
temperature conditions of 20oC,
approximately half of the C3S present in a
typical cement will be hydrated by 3 days and
80% by 28days. The hydration of C2S does not
normally proceed to a significant extent until
approximately 14days.
Reaction C3A> C3S>C4AF >C2S
Hydration Process
 The hydration of Portland Cement consists of
exothermic reactions and they can be
monitored using the technique of isothermal
conduction calorimetry ( KilloH 1998)

The different phases are :

Pre-Induction Period
Dormant Period ( Induction Period)
Acceleration Stage
Post- Acceleration Stage
(Refer to Hand-Out Notes)
Detailed Study Techniques used to study
Hydration

Thermal Analysis
X-ray diffraction
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)