Work

Dissolution and Early Hydration Interaction of C3A-C4AF Polyphase in Water and Aqueous Sulfate Solutions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The concurrent dissolution and early hydration of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C4AF) critically govern early-stage reaction dynamics in Portland cement systems. However, their mutual kinetic interactions during reaction, particularly sulfate-dependent modulation mechanisms, remain poorly understood. Using in-situ digital holographic microscopy (DHM), this study resolved their interaction mechanisms during co-dissolution in aqueous and sulfate-bearing environments. Results reveal asymmetric modulation: while C4AF’s dissolution exhibited limited sensitivity to C3A’s presence, C3A’s kinetics were profoundly altered by C4AF through sulfate-concentration-dependent pathways, which originated from two competing C4AF-mediated mechanisms: (1) suppression via common-ion effects, and (2) acceleration through competitive sulfate species adsorption. These mechanistic insights would provide a roadmap for optimizing cementitious materials through optimized reaction pathways.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18143399

Authors: Shaoxiong Ye, Pan Feng

Institutions: Huaqiao University, State Key Laboratory of High Performance Civil Engineering Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Construction Materials, Southeast University

Language: English

Topic: Concrete and Cement Materials Research

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Civil Engineering Materials, National Natural Science Foundation of China