The hydration of tricalcium silicate in the presence of colloidal silica

Reactions of colloidal silica fumes with calcium hydroxide or hydrating tricalcium silicate (C3S) have been studied using calorimetry, chemical analyses, and scanning electron microscopy. Silica fume reacts immediately with calcium hydroxide forming a colloidal calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) similar to that formed by the hydration of C3S. When excess silica is present it reacts with C-S-H already formed to produce a new, highly polymerized...