Abstract
The effects of hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) on the early hydration and main hydrates evolutions of Portland cement were quantitatively investigated by the isothermal calorimetry, setting times, X-ray diffraction analysis, and environmental scanning electron microscope analysis. The results show that HEMC definitely affects the early hydration process of cement paste and retards the beginning of the hydration induction period and acceleration period, but increases the length of these two periods. HEMC decreases the hydration heat evolution rate during the initial reaction period and the acceleration period, but increases the hydration heat evolution rate during the deceleration period. HEMC decreases the hydration heat amount and hydration degree of cement paste at the early hydration time, especially in the first thirty-six hours. There are good positive correlations between the setting time, the length of induction period and the dosages of HEMC. HEMC also delays the formation of the hydrates and affects the morphologies of hydrates. Accordingly, HEMC remarkably retards the cement hydration at the early hydration time, and with its dosage increasing, the retardation effect of HEMC enhances.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wagner HB. Hydraulic cement mortar compositions and methods of use. US Patent 2, 934, 932, 1960.
Wagner HB. Dry cement composition comprising Portland cement, methyl cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol and method of installing tile with same. US Patent 3, 030, 258, 1962.
Plank J. Applications of biopolymers in construction engineering. In: Steinbüchel A, editor. Biopolymers. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH; 2003. p. 29–95.
Dönges R. Non-ıonic cellulose ethers. Brit Polym J. 1990;23(2):315–26.
Jenni A, Holzer L, Zurbriggen R, et al. Influence of polymers on microstructure and adhesive strength of cementitious tile adhesive mortars. Cem Concr Res. 2005;35(1):35–50.
Wang PM, Xu Q, Stark J. Study on physical properties of HEMC cement mortar with ground granulated blast furnace slag and superplasticizer. J Build Mater. 2001;4(2):122–6.
Silaghi L, Rozenberg M, Lascu M. Influence of MHEC and HPC additives on the properties of cement based mortar. Materiale de Constructii (Bucharest). 1999;4(2):271–4.
Bülichen D, Kainz J, Plank J. Working mechanism of methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) as water retention agent. Cem Concr Res. 2012;42(7):953–9.
Ciobanu C, Iluc S, Lazau I, et al. Some physico-mechanical properties of dry mortars containing cellulose ethers. Rom J Mater. 2011;41(1):30–41.
Patural L, Marchal P, Govin A, et al. Cellulose ethers influence on water retention and consistency in cement-based mortars. Cem Concr Res. 2011;41(1):46–55.
Betioli AM, Gleize PJP, Silva DA, et al. Effect of HMEC on the consolidation of cement pastes: isothermal calorimetry versus oscillatory rheometry. Cem Concr Res. 2009;39(5):440–5.
Ferraris CF, Martys NS. Relating fresh concrete viscosity measurements from different rheometers. J Res Natl Inst Stan. 2003;108(3):229–34.
Singh NK, Mishra PC, Singh VK, et al. Effects of hydroxyethyl cellulose and oxalic acid on the properties of cement. Cem Concr Res. 2003;33(9):1319–29.
Muller I. Influence of cellulose ethers on the kinetics of early Portland cement hydration. Dissertation, University of Karlsruhe, 2006.
Knapen E. Microstructure formation in cement mortars modified with water-soluble polymers. Dissertation, K.U. Leuven, 2007.
Ciobanu C, Lazau I, Pacurariu C. Investigation of the cellulose ethers effect on the Portland cement hydration by thermal analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2013;112(1):325–30.
Pourchez J, Peschard A, Grosseau P, et al. HPMC and HEMC influence on cement hydration. Cem Concr Res. 2006;36(2):288–94.
Jenni A, Zurbriggen R, Herwegh M, et al. Changes in microstructures and physical properties of polymer-modified mortars during wet storage. Cem Concr Res. 2006;36(1):79–90.
Gruyaert E, Robeyst N, De Belie N. Study of the hydration of Portland cement blended with blast-furnace slag by calorimetry and thermogravimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2010;102(3):941–51.
Baert G, Hoste S, De Schutter G, et al. Reactivity of fly ash in cement paste studied by means of thermogravimetry and isothermal calorimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2008;94(2):485–92.
Siler P, Kratky J, De Belie N. Isothermal and solution calorimetry to assess the effect of superplasticizers and mineral admixtures on cement hydration. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012;107(1):313–20.
Taylor H, Barret P, Brown P, et al. The hydration of tricalcium silicate. Mater Struct. 1984;17(6):457–68.
Peschard A, Govina A, Pourchez J, et al. Effect of polysaccharides on the hydration of cement suspension. J Eur Ceram Soc. 2006;26(8):1439–45.
Bullard JW, Jennings HM, Livingston RA, et al. Mechanisms of cement hydration. Cem Concr Res. 2011;41(12):1208–23.
Su L, Ma BG, Jian SW, et al. Hydration heat effect of cement pastes modified with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether and expanded perlite. J Wuhan Univ Technol. 2013;28(1):122–6.
Ma BG, Ou ZH, Jian SW, et al. Influence of cellulose ethers on hydration products of Portland cement. J Wuhan Univ Technol. 2011;26(3):588–93.
Lazau I, Pacurariu C, Ciobanu C. The use of thermal analysis to investigate the effects of cellulose ethers on the Portland cement hydration. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012;110:103–10.
Bogue RH. The chemistry of Portland cement. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation; 1947.
Schindler AK, Folliard KJ. Heat of hydration models for cementitious materials. ACI Mater J. 2005;102(1):24–33.
Krstulovic R, Dabic P. A conceptual model of the cement hydration process. Cem Concr Res. 2000;30(5):693–8.
Lawrence P, Cyr M, Ringot E. Mineral admixture in mortars-effect of inert materials on short-term hydration. Cem Concr Res. 2003;33(12):1939–47.
Wang JC, Yan PY. Influence of initial casting temperature and dosage of fly ash on hydration heat evolution of concrete under adiabatic condition. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2006;85(3):755–60.
Petit JY, Wirquin E. Evaluation of various cellulose ethers performance in ceramic tile adhesive mortars. Int J Adhes Adhes. 2013;40:202–9.
Mindess S, Young JF. Concrete. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall; 1981.
Hewlett PC. Lea’s chemistry of cement and concrete (4th edition). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2004.
Acknowledgements
The authors greatly acknowledge the financial support of this work by the National Natural Science Fund of China (51102182), the fund of National Key Technology R&D Programs in the 12th Five-year Plan of China (2012BAJ20B02), and the open fund of State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures (SYSJJ2013-08).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, G., Zhao, J., Wang, P. et al. Effect of HEMC on the early hydration of Portland cement highlighted by isothermal calorimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim 119, 1833–1843 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-4346-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-4346-6