Monitoring the dynamics of Portland cement hydration through photoluminescence and other correlated spectroscopy techniques

Abstract

Photoluminescence Spectroscopy was used in order to further understand cement hydration within the first hours of hydration (1 until 1024 min). The results showed a formation of C-S-H initially after 1 min of hydration and a growing process up to 32 min. This growth process fluctuates in a sinusoidal trend with the crystallographic arrangement (structural order/disorder), allowing the monitoring of cement hydration. The same sinusoidal tendency was observed for other chemical compounds such as CaCO3, C-H as well and confirmed by Thermogravimetric Analysis and Infrared Spectroscopy. The same process was observed for calcium and silicon ions by the use of different techniques as Atomic absorption spectrometry and ionic conductivity, in order to validate the method. All the used methods show very satisfying alignment.