Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Factors such as the type of aggregate, the addition of silica fume, and the roughness of the aggregate surface, which influence the orientation index of Ca(OH)2 crystals in the interface layer, are discussed, based on the experimental results of Maso [3] and the author. Then, a hypothesis about the mechanism of this orientation is proposed, involving the Ca(OH)2 crystal structure and the principles of physical chemistry of surfaces.
From this hypothesis, it is suggested that the reduction of the orientation index of Ca(OH)2 crystals when silica fume is added is due to physical aspects other than the large water requirement of silica fume. The same is also true when the aggregate surface is rough.