In-situ SyXRD Analysis of Cement Hydration on the ms-Scale

The backbone of our infrastructure and modern architecture are cementitious materials. Despite their substantial role for society and their common involvement in the built environment, basic aspects of the hydration processes of cement are still not completely understood. During the first seconds of a building’s life, highly dynamic reaction processes prevail. These reactions have a direct influence on the properties of the final building. Moreover, these reactions are actively influenced by organic additives. The additives affect the initial formation of hydrate phases, which is often interpreted based on the changes in fluid behaviour and zeta potential. Up to now, their influence has not been characterized by analysing the changes in the crystallization processes directly.