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Changes in pore structure and mercury contact angle of hardened cement paste depending on relative humidity

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Abstract

Hardened cement paste (hcp) is a porous heterogeneous material consisting of dispersed particles like Calcium Silicate Hydrates (C-S-H). These are of micron to nanometer size forming pores on a nanometer scale. Thus, hcp can be regarded as a colloidal system. Surface forces play a dominant role. Adsorbed water molecules interact with the surface. Capillary condensation occurs in the pores below bulk conditions acting in form of capillary and disjoning forces. All these forces are able to alter the structure and properties of the hardened cement paste depending on the moisture content. Pore size distributions were measured with mercury intrusion porosimetry on hcp specimens, which had been prestored over the entire range of relative humidity. Swelling and shrinkage of hcp tubes were also determined. The pore size distribution is corrected for each humidity step regarding the particular porosity, contact angle and volume change. The pore size distribution as a function of relative humidity is nonlinear and characterized by an extreme value in the medium range of humidity.

Résumé

La pâte de ciment durcie est un matériau poreux hétérogène consistant de particules dispersées comme les silicates de calcium hydratés (CSH). Ce sont des pores formés à l'échelle nanométrique allant de la taille du micron à celle du nanomètre. La pâte de ciment durcie peut être considérée comme un système colloïdal. Les forces de surface y jouent un rôle dominant. Les molécules d'eau adsorbées interagissent avec la surface. La condensation capillaire se produit, sous conditions macroscopiques, dans les mésopores. Elle est dominée par les forces capillaires et de disjonction. Toutes ces forces sont capables d'altérer la structure et les propriétés de la pâte de ciment durcie en fonction de sa teneur en humidité. La distribution de la taille des pores a été mesurée à l'aide de la porosimétrie par intrusion de mercure sur des spécimens de pâte de ciment durcie, entreposés à différent degrés d'humidité relative.

Le retrait et le gonflement de tubes de pâte de ciment durcie ont aussi été déterminés. La distribution de la taille des pores pour chaque degré d'humidité a été corrigée en fonction de la porositè particulière, de l'angle de contact et des changements de volume. La distribution de la taille des pores en fonction de l'humidité relative n'est pas linéaire et est caractérisée par une valeur extrême pour une humidité moyenne.

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Author notes

  1. J. Adolphs

    Present address: POROTEC GmbH, Niederhofheimer Str. 55a, 65719, Hofheim/Ts., Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Science and Technology of Advanced Cement Based Materials ACBM, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA

    J. Adolphs

  2. Institute of Building Physics and Materials Science IBPM, University Essen, Germany

    M. J. Setzer & P. Heine

Authors
  1. J. Adolphs
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  2. M. J. Setzer
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  3. P. Heine
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Editorial Note Prof. M. J. Setzer is a RILEM Senior Member and the Chairman of the RILEM Technical Committee 176-IDC: ‘Internal damage of concrete due to frost action’ and participates in the work of RILEM Technical Committee 178-TMC: ‘Testing and modelling chloride penetration in concrete’. ACBM Center (Northvestern University) is a RILEM Titular Member.

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Adolphs, J., Setzer, M.J. & Heine, P. Changes in pore structure and mercury contact angle of hardened cement paste depending on relative humidity. Mat. Struct. 35, 477–486 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02483135

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