Assessment of Hydration Stages in the Property Development of Portland Blended Cement Systems Containing Limestone Powders
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, hydration stages were closely tracked in mixtures containing limestone (LS) powders to establish a correlation between microstructural parameters and performance properties. Despite the poor reactivity of LS powders, the setting duration of mixtures remained unchanged up to an LS dosage of 16%, after which a slowdown in setting time was observed. Hydrated compounds like hemicarboaluminate (H c ) were detected in pastes containing LS powders at both early and later curing periods, whereas compounds like monocarboaluminate (M c ) were only found in pastes containing LS powders at later curing periods. The Ca(OH) ₂ increased with an increase in the LS dosage, showing an accelerating effect at both 3 and 28 days; however, the amount of water in hydrated compounds [found in Region 4 (a) of the thermogravimetric analysis plot] was higher only at an LS dosage of 8%. Because of the development of H c and M c , which increased the calcium carbo aluminate hydrates, the 8% LS addition had a beneficial influence on compressive strength during all phases of hydration. The “dilution” effect and increased porosity in the matrices, however, prevented the later-age strength from improving at higher LS dosages. It is critical to note that there was a good correlation between strength and hydrate water (HW) content since the changes in the latter were reflected in corresponding changes in the former when the LS dosage was increased from 0 to 24%. The HW content appeared to display better trends than the non-evaporable water content in correlating with the strength behaviour.
Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,290
OpenAlex ID: W4415777072