For My Non Muslim Students : "Success doesn't come to you unless you work towards achieving it

REMINDER FOR MY MUSLIM STUDENTS

HYDRATION PROCESS

OBJECTIVES OF LECTURE


At the end of the lecture, students should be able to Define and explain the mechanism of hydration process in depth Explain the contribution of hydration process towards concrete properties and its characteristic

INTRODUCTION


Hydration is the chemical reaction that takes placed when Portland cement and water are mixed together. The heat generated when water and cement chemically react is called as heat of hydration. Amount of heat generated dependent upon the chemical composition of cement. Rate of heat generation depends on fineness, chemical composition of cement and curing temperatures.

Chemical Composition
Chemical Constituents Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3) Calcium Oxide (CaO) Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Sodium Oxide (Na2O) Potassium Oxide (K2O) Sulphur trioxide (SO3) Phosporus Oxide ( P2O2) Loss On Ignition (LOI) OPC (%) 20.2 5.7 3.0 62.5 2.6 0.16 0.87 1.8 0.87 2.70 Pozzolanic material(%) 43.6 11.4 4.7 8.4 4.8 0.39 3.5 2.8 3.5 18.0

At the end of hydration process, the following components are a) Some unhydrated cement b) Lime crystals; Ca(OH)2 c) Calcium Silicate Hydrate gel (C-S-H) (Cd) Some minor components e) Residue of water filled spaces in fresh paste C-S-H gel is main product of hydration process. Ca(OH)2 is a non binder and vulnerable to chemical attack.

The engineering properties of concrete such as setting and hardening, strength & dimensional stability depends primarily on C-S-H gel. C Hydration process increase the amount of C-S-H gel leading to increment in the strength of concrete.


Calcium Silicate Hydrate gel

Calcium Silicate Hydrate gel

Calcium Hydroxide in hexagonal shape

Microstructure of hydrated cement paste

Hydration Process


Portland cement is not a simple chemical compound. There is 4 main compounds in cement that is: a) Tricalcium Silicate (C3S) b) Dicalcium Silicate (C2S) c) Tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) d) Tetracalcium Alumino Ferite (C4AH) Tricalcium silicate hydrates fast and contribute towards early strength development

Dicalcium silicate hydrates slower because it is less reactive and contribute towards belated strength development. Tricalcium Aluminate is an unavoidable content in cement & contribute slightly to early strength. It reacts very fast and release high heat and may lead to Flash Set, therefore Gypsum has been added to slow the reaction. Tetracalcium aluminoferrite responsible to give colour to the cement.

Hydration Process
Cement + H2O CC-S-H gel + Ca(OH)2

Pozzolans


Are siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials which in themselves possess little or no cementitious property BUT in finely divided form and in the presence of moisture, these materials can react with calcium hydroxide of concrete at ordinary temperatures to form compounds of cementitious properties. This reaction is called POZZOLANIC REACTION

Pozzolanic Reactions


Stage 1 : Hydration Process Cement + H2O CC-S-H gel + Ca(OH)2 Stage 2 : Pozzolanic Reaction SiO2 + Ca(OH)2 + H2O CC-S-H gel

Pozzolanic reaction would only take place after Calcium Hydroxide has been produced through the occurrence of hydration process. However, water is essential for pozzolanic reaction to occur & form secondary C-S-H gel. CTherefore, initial water curing is essential to ensure faster hydration process to create a large amount of lime for the occurrence of pozzolanic reaction as well.

Formation of additional C-S-H gel would fill Cthe existing voids in concrete thus creating denser concrete. Furthermore, reduction in amount of CaOH that is vulnerable to aggressive environment improves the durability of concrete. This finally increases the strength and durability of this hardened material. Amorphous silica reacts with Ca(OH)2 and alkalis generally more rapidly than does silica in crystalline form.

Concrete Microstructure

Without POFA (left) : Internal structure More voids With POFA (right) : Denser internal structure

Effect of pozzolanic admixture

    

  

Low early strength Lower heat of hydration Higher ultimate strength Less permeable Improves durability of concrete (Sulphate, acid (Sulphate, and ASR) Reduce cost Increase workability (some of it) Reduce waste ending at landfill (some of it)

POFA concrete is more resistant to sulphate attack

Does this find yourself in this kind of situation before this?????

To be alive is a gift, So learn to appreciate it