Interaction Between Portland Cement Hydrates and Polynapthalene Sulfonates

The ability of tricalcium aluminate hydration products to absorb polynaphthalene sulfonates (PNS) has been studied by reacting a small excess of saturated lime solution, containing various amounts of PNS, with an aqueous solution of sodium aluminate. Using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, it is shown that well defined organomineral intercalation compounds result from the reaction. They can be described as layered double hydroxides where part of the hydroxyl groups have been replaced by the PNS anions. The consequences of the formation of such compounds upon the rheological characteristics in the early hydration period of portland cement is discussed. Emphasis is laid on the fact that the absorptive behavior of calcium aluminate hydrates in the presence of superplasticizers is not at the origin of the ocasionally observed abnormal early stiffening. This point is illustrated by the investigation of cases of practical interest, based in particular on the analysis of the pore fluid composition in fresh mortars and pastes.