Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
The hydration reaction of C3A with gypsum (molar ratio = 1:1.5) has been studied in water and in sodium hydroxide solutions at 30°C. The hydration product were analyzed microscopically and by means of X-ray diffraction. The concentration of sulfate and aluminum in solution was determined spectrophotometrically. In the absence of alkali, the amount of ettringite formed passes through a maximum and is accompanied by almost complete consumption of sulphate ion in solution. Alkali depresses the formation of ettringite and accelerates that of calcium hydroxide. The monosulfate hydrate appears immediately in alkaline solutions and water then reappears after a day as a solid solution with the tetracalcium aluminate hydrate. The formation of the monophase solid solution is accompanied by the consumption of C3A, ettringite, and calcium hydroxide and by an increase in the amount of the dissolved aluminum. The presence of alkali markedly increases the initial sulfate ion concentration from solution.