• Moragues, Amparo
• Reyes, Encarnación
• Rubia, Miguel A. De La
• Campo, Adolfo Del
• Fernández, Jose F.
• Torres, Manuel

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The study of the hydration reactions of Portland cement is well documented by conventional techniques such as X‐ray diffraction, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis, or NMR, for instance. However, a complete view of all the phases present in the reactions is elusive. In this study, by using an in situ analysis through confocal Raman microscopy (CRM), the reaction of the initial phases (C<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>S, C<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>S, and C<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>A) to form new crystalline phases (portlandite, ettringite, and monosulfate) and amorphous C‐S‐H gel is reported. For the first time, this characterization technique allows to know the distribution and evolution of hydration water. In situ characterization of cement‐based materials opens a new gate to understand the different mechanisms involved in the processes of hydration of a Portland cement, due to the combined chemical and high spatial resolution of CRM.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• amorphous
• crystalline phase
• cement
• thermogravimetry
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy
• Raman microscopy