Interaction of Amorphous Nano-aluminosilicates with Cement Pore Solution and the Effect on the Early Hydration Reaction of Portland Cement

Amorphous nano-aluminosilicates are potentially seen as a new generation of nano-particle additives that can be used in cementitious materials. The primary objective of this research was to compare the effects of these novel nano-additives on the early hydration of Portland cement. The chemical and morphological changes undergone by the nano-particles as a result of exposure to cement pore solution were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of the nano-particle solutions, or sols, on the cement hydration reaction was investigated using isothermal calorimetry. The results indicated a correlation between the arrangement of the aluminum within the silica framework and agglomeration of the nano-particles. Further, the effect of both these aspects on the hydration reaction of Portland cement is discussed.