Nanostructure of calcium silicate hydrates in cements

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 May 14;104(19):195502. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.195502. Epub 2010 May 11.

Abstract

Calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) is the major volume phase in the matrix of Portland cement concrete. Total x-ray scattering measurements with synchrotron x rays on synthetic CSH(I) shows nanocrystalline ordering with a particle diameter of 3.5(5) nm, similar to a size-broadened 1.1 nm tobermorite crystal structure. The CSH component in hydrated tricalcium silicate is found to be similar to CSH(I). Only a slight bend and additional disorder within the CaO sheets is required to explain its nanocrystalline structure.