Structure, Fractality, Mechanics and Durability of Calcium Silicate Hydrates

• Published in: Fractal and fractional Vol. 5; no. 2; p. 47
• Main Authors: Tang, Shengwen, Wang, Yang, Geng, Zhicheng, Xu, Xiaofei, Yu, Wenzhi, A, Hubao, Chen, Jingtao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Aluminum; Calcium silicate hydrate; calcium to silicate ratio; carbonization; Cement hydration; Cement paste; chloride/sulfate attack; Concrete; Construction; Durability; fractal; Fractals; Gels; Mechanical properties; Morphology; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Porous materials; Portland cements
• ISSN: 2504-3110; 2504-3110
• DOI: 10.3390/fractalfract5020047

Cement-based materials are widely utilized in infrastructure. The main product of hydrated products of cement-based materials is calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels that are considered as the binding phase of cement paste. C-S-H gels in Portland cement paste account for 60–70% of hydrated products by volume, which has profound influence on the mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials. The preparation method of C-S-H gels has been well documented, but the quality of the prepared C-S-H affects experimental results; therefore, this review studies the preparation method of C-S-H under different conditions and materials. The progress related to C-S-H microstructure is explored from the theoretical and computational point of view. The fractality of C-S-H is discussed. An evaluation of the mechanical properties of C-S-H has also been included in this review. Finally, there is a discussion of the durability of C-S-H, with special reference to the carbonization and chloride/sulfate attacks.