8/15/2018

Cement Hydration
• The chemical reaction between cement
and water producing compounds with
strength-producing properties.
Cement Hydration
Reaction of cement with Water

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 1 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 2

Hydration of Cement Products of the Hydration Reaction

• It is chemical reaction
• Cement + water = C-S-H gel + lime
• It begins at the surfaces of cement grains

• Exothermic reaction (generates heat)

• Forms C-S-H (calcium silicate hydrate)gel and

calcium hydroxide (lime), ettringite

• Time and temperature dependent

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 3 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 4

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Hydration of Cement Ettringite Formation

• C3A + gypsum + water = Ettringite

Ettringite causes expansion in concrete

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 5 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 6

C-S-H Gel
Sulfate Attack • C-S-H is the “glue” that holds the aggregates
together
C3A reacting with
sulfates creating • Has porosity of 28% (gel pores)
expansion as a result
of ettringite • Contributes to shrinkage of concrete due to
formation evaporation of water in the gel pores

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 7 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 8

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Hydration of Cement
Calcium Hydroxide ( Lime)
• Is product of hydration; it is not necessary

• Large crystals
• Contributes to efflorescence

• It is converted to C-S-H gel when it reacts

with pozzolans in the presence of water

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 9 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 10

Hydration Products at 500X Effect of Lime: Efflorescence

Large, plate-like crystals are CH or lime

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 11 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 12

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Effect of Lime: Efflorescence How Much Water Should be Mixed

with How Much Cement?
• The concept of water-cement ratio
• W/C

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 13 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 14

W / C : 0,6 W / C : 0,4
T=0 T=0

Water-Cement Ratio
T= 1 T=1 • Expressed as the weight of water divided
by the weight of cement

• Determines how far apart the cement

T=2 T=2 grains are

• The higher the W/C the farther apart the

cement grains are
T =3 T=3

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 15 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 16

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Result of Cement Hydration Scanning Electron Microscope

Ca(OH)2 C-S-H Capillary Pores

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 17 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 18

Cement Hydration SEM Video Composition of Cement Paste

• C-S-H gel
• Gel pores
• Calcium hydroxide
• Ettringite
• Unhydrated cement
• Capillary pores
• Water
Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 19 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 20

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Composition of Hydrating Cement

Paste Schematic of C-S-H Gel

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 21

Capillary pore
Ephraim Senbetta, PhD
Gel pore 22

Setting and Hardening Factors Affecting Strength Development

As hydration products form on the surfaces of
cement grains
• Initial spacing between cement grains, i.e,
• Initial set occurs when a weak skeleton begins to Water-cement ratio (W/C)
hold the cement grains in place.
• Final set occurs when the skeleton becomes
• Degree to which the water-filled space
rigid enough that the cement grains can no
between the cement grains is replaced by
longer move.
hydration products, curing enables it
• Strength development occurs as the space
between cement grains is filled with hydration
products.
Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 23 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 24

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Capillary Porosity (%) The Effect of W/C on Density

• Amount of Cement that has Hydrated (%)

50 60 70 80 90
Water/Cement

0.8 55 51 48 45 41

0.6 45 41 37 33 29

0.4 30 24 19 14 9

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 25 The cement content is the same

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 26

Water Cement Ratio & Impermeability The Effect of W/C on Permeability

W/C Curing Time
0.35 1 day
0.40 3 days
0.45 7 days
0.50 2 weeks
0.60 6 months
0.70 1 year
 0.70 impossible
Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 27 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 28

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The Effect of W/C on Strength

Questions?

Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 29 Ephraim Senbetta, PhD 30