There are 5 stages of hydration of Portland cement.

Stage 1 is called the

dissolution stage where
there is a rapid evolution of heat. Stage 2 is the induction period where the heat
of evolution starts
to diminish and some ion concentrations are needed to form CSH. Stage 3 is the
acceleration stage
or initial setting. Within 2 to 4 hours, the ions will have reached saturation and
CH will begin to
crystallize and CSH will coat the cement grain. The final setting then occurs in 4
to 8 hours. Stage
4 is the deceleration stage wherein the unhydrated cement grain has a thickening
barrier between
it and the water. Hydration of C3A continues as ettringite is converted to AFm. The
final stage
occurs within 18-36 hours, determining the early strength gain. The concrete will
start to set when
the hydration products coating the cement grain start to bridge and slowly run out
of pore space.

Calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), Calcium hydroxide (CH), and Calcium sulphoaluminate
are
products of hydration and they determine the properties of hardened cement pastes.
CSH,
constituting ~50% volume of hydrated paste, is a primary product and is considered
the most
essential since it contributes to the strength and density of the concrete in the
long run. An early
product CSH, formed in stage 2, has a lower density, higher impurity level and
higher
microporosity as compared to the late product, formed in stage 4, which now has a
more stable
arrangement and resistance to change. It has an interlayer pore, micropore, and
capillary pore
which, together, behaves like clay. Prolonged moist when curing helps it achieve
more resistance
to drying shrinkage. CH, making up 20-25% of the volume is more soluble than CSH,
possibly
increasing the permeability of concrete which makes it more susceptible to sulfate
attack. It is a
well-crystallized material filling up void spaces. It is formed during stage 3
hydration of C3S,
raising the pH level over 12 and is responsible for corrosion protection. Lastly,
Calcium
sulphoaluminate (ettringite and AFm) makes up 10-15% by solid volume. Ettringite is
in the form
of needles while AFm is in rosettes. It is thoroughly scattered throughout the
paste and is necessary
for the protection of concrete when exposed to environments with high sulfate
concentrations.

The knowledge and understanding of these are essential to better grasp its
properties and learn
why it is an excellent binder and widely used in concrete