Hydration in the ternary system calcium sulfoaluminate - ordinary Portland cement - calcium sulfate: Kinetics, mechanisms, performance and the impact of Li2CO3 addition

Wolf J (2021)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Thesis

Publication year: 2021

URI: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/frontdoor/index/index/docId/17955

Abstract

CSA-OPC-C$ blends are used for applications where rapid setting and drying is desired. The hydration process is complex due to the multitude of involved phases, metastability issues and amorphous nature of hydrates. Overall little research concerning the early hydration kinetics in such blends has been published and this thesis aims to contribute towards a further understanding of these systems. By means of predominantly XRD, pore solution analysis and thermodynamic calculations, a basic hydration scheme is developed. Based on thermodynamic modeling five different ternary blends are chosen for further investigation. The hydration process is documented from the point of mixing up to 28 d. It was found that the hydration process can be divided in two main periods. The early period is characterized by the rapid dissolution of ye’elimite and Ca-sulfate, resulting in the formation of ettringite and amorphous aluminum hydroxide. During this period low pH values prevail, with high Al and S concentrations and low Ca concentrations in the pore solution. Contrary to predominant literature reports, alite can in fact react to significant degree under these conditions. The early C3S dissolution kinetics were found to depend on the availability of reactive calcium sulfate. This early C3S reaction directly contributes to the precipitation of ettringite. An amorphous silicon bearing hydrate of unknown nature must form at this early stage. With increasing pH values in the liquid phase and either the enrichment or depletion of Al in the pore solution, a second state is initiated. The initially formed silicon bearing hydrate and amorphous aluminum hydroxide are destabilized and either C-S-H precipitation or straetlingite crystallization ensues. Upon C-S-H formation the alite reaction rate is significantly increased and the kinetics resemble the main C3S reaction in OPC systems. For the systems poor in anhydrite high oversaturations with respect to straetlingite are observed in this second stage. These translate to high potential crystallization pressures. It was found that the late crystallization of straetlingite results in potential tensile stresses exceeding the tensile strength of the material, resulting in a higher fraction of capillary pores, and decreased mechanical performance. The addition of Li2CO3 results in accelerated dissolution of ye’elimite and alite and increased precipitation of ettringite. Significantly reduced ye’elimite dissolution rates are observed when exceeding a critical dosage of Li2CO3. This results in an earlier transition towards the C-S-H forming stage in the respective blend. 

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How to cite

APA:

Wolf, J. (2021). Hydration in the ternary system calcium sulfoaluminate - ordinary Portland cement - calcium sulfate: Kinetics, mechanisms, performance and the impact of Li2CO3 addition (Dissertation).

MLA:

Wolf, Julian. Hydration in the ternary system calcium sulfoaluminate - ordinary Portland cement - calcium sulfate: Kinetics, mechanisms, performance and the impact of Li2CO3 addition. Dissertation, 2021.

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