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Hydration of Cement: Debasish Das 118AR0002

Cement hydration is the chemical reaction between cement and water. The main components of cement - C3S, C2S, C3A, and C4AF - react with water to form hydration products that deposit on cement grains. As hydration proceeds, these products fill space and stiffen the cement paste, developing strength over time. The rate of hydration depends on factors like the presence of gypsum and water-to-cement ratio, with about 38% water by weight required for full hydration.

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131 views8 pages

Hydration of Cement: Debasish Das 118AR0002

Cement hydration is the chemical reaction between cement and water. The main components of cement - C3S, C2S, C3A, and C4AF - react with water to form hydration products that deposit on cement grains. As hydration proceeds, these products fill space and stiffen the cement paste, developing strength over time. The rate of hydration depends on factors like the presence of gypsum and water-to-cement ratio, with about 38% water by weight required for full hydration.

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Vikas
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HYDRATION OF CEMENT

Debasish Das
118AR0002
What is hydration?
• The chemical reaction between cement and water is known as Hydration of cement.

• The reaction takes place between the active components of cement(C4AF, C3A, C3S and
C2S) and water.

Factors:
• The extent of hydration
• The resultant microstructure of the hydrated cement.
• When the cement comes in contact with water, the hydration products start depositing on the
outer periphery of the nucleus of hydrated cement.
• As the hydration proceeds, the hydration products deposit on the original cement grain
preventing further hydration , consequently reducing the rate of hydration with time.

• The cement paste consists of:


1. Gel
2. Unreacted cement
3. Calcium hydroxide
4. Water and some minor compounds
• The crystals of various resulting compounds fill up the space originally occupied by water, resulting
in the stiffening of mass and subsequent development of the strength.
• The table above shows the reactions of the compounds and their products.

• As hydration proceeds, the two crystal types (C-S-H gel and CA(OH)2 ) become more heavily
interlocked increasing the strength, though the main cementing action is provided by the gel
which occupies 2/3rd of the total mass of hydrate.
RATE OF HYDRATION
• The reaction of C3A with water is very fast and is responsible for flash setting of the cement.
Thus preventing the hydration of C3S and C2S.

• CaSO4 present in clinker dissolves in water and forms calcium sulphoaluminate, which deposits
on the surface of C3Aformiing a colloidal membrane retarding the hydration of C3A.

• The membrane breaks in the process because of the pressure of the compounds formed
during hydration and then again C3A becomes active in the reaction.

• The hardening of C3S can be said to be catalyzed by C3A.

• C3S becomes solely responsible for the gain of strength up to 28 days by growth and
interlocking of C-S-H gel.

• The later increase in strength at later age is due to hydration of C2S.


WATER REQUIREMENT FOR HYDRATION
• About 23% of water by weight of cement is required for complete hydration of
Portland cement.

• About 15% of water by weight of cement is required to fill the cement gel pores.

• Therefore, a total of 38% of water by weight of cement is required to complete


the chemical reaction.

• Excess water leads to capillary cavities.

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