Title | Is cement a glassy material? |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Bauchy M, Qomi M J A, Pellenq RJean-Marc, Ulm F-J |
Editor | Bicanic N, Mang H, Meschke G, DeBorst R |
Conference Name | Euro-C Conference |
Volume | COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES, VOL 1 |
Pagination | 169-176 |
Date Published | Jun-22-2015 |
Publisher | CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP |
Conference Location | MAR 24-27, 2014, St Anton am Alberg, AUSTRIA |
ISBN Number | 978-1-138-02641-4; 978-1-315-76203-6 |
Abstract | The nature of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H), the binding phase of cement, remains a controversial question. In particular, contrary to the former crystalline model, it was recently proposed that its nanoscale structure was actually amorphous. To elucidate this issue, we analyzed the structure of a realistic simulation of C-S-H, and compared the latter to crystalline tobermorite, a natural analogue to cement, and to an artificial ideal glass. Results clearly support that C-S-H is amorphous. However, its structure shows an intermediate degree of order, retaining some characteristics of the crystal while acquiring an overall glass-like disorder. Thanks to a detailed quantification of order and disorder, we show that its amorphous state mainly arises from its hydration. |
DOI | 10.1201/b16645-19 |