Insight into Early-Age Performance of Cement Paste/Mortar with C-S-Hs-PCE and Aluminum Sulfate
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 8
Abstract
This work aimed to perform the insight into the performance at early age of cement paste/mortar with calcium silicate hydrate seeds–polycarboxylate (C-S-Hs-PCE) and aluminum sulphate. The performance was evaluated using the setting behavior and compressive strength. Hydration heat liberation, chemical shrinkage, X-ray diffraction, and differential thermal analysis were performed to explore the related mechanism. The results indicate that C-S-Hs-PCE can reduce the setting times of paste and increase the compressive strength of mortar with aluminum sulfate at 6 and 12 h and 1 and 28 days. These results are mainly related to the acceleration hydration of tricalcium silicate and facilitation of ettringite and calcium hydroxide formation. Aluminum sulfate and C-S-Hs-PCE promote the cement hydration in two manners: (1) they significantly enhance the heat flow and end the acceleration period earlier; and (2) aluminum sulfate prolongs the induction period, whereas C-S-Hs-PCE shortens it. These findings provide theoretical guidance for the development of a new alkali-free accelerator as well as the application of C-S-Hs-PCE.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (51578412, 51878479, and 52078372), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 8 • August 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 28, 2020
Accepted: Jan 11, 2021
Published online: Jun 14, 2021
Published in print: Aug 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Nov 14, 2021
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