.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
Influence of cement fineness on the spatial zonation of hydration products in ultra-low water-to-binder cementitious composites
.png){kind=icon}
PRE
AI
Q
B
K
H
J
W
W
Z
DOI：10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106649.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
The water-to-binder ratio and cement fineness are key parameters influencing hydration kinetics and microstructural development in cement-based materials. This study investigates the effect of cement fineness on hydration behavior in ultra-low water-to-binder cementitious systems (w/b = 0.14) and develops a combined thermodynamic–experimental framework to quantify the spatial zonation of hydration products and its implications for mechanical performance. The results show that increased cement fineness enhances early-age reactions, including the pozzolanic activity of silica fume, leading to the formation of low-Ca/Si C–S–H and rapid densification of outer hydration products. Under ultra-low w/b conditions, this densification constrains the development of inner products and promotes the formation of hollow-shell structures around cement grains. A critical hollow-shell thickness is identified, below which compressive strength remains essentially unchanged. Further growth of hollow-shell features is accompanied by a pronounced reduction in strength, on the order of 12–22%. These results indicate that cement fineness plays a critical role in controlling hydration rate and spatial product zonation in ultra-low water-to-binder cementitious systems, thereby exerting a significant influence on final mechanical performance.
Keywords:
cement fineness
hydration products
spatial zonation
ultra-low water-to-binder ratio
mechanical performance
Journal
IF:
13.1
Papers:
5.4K
Citations:
5.1W
Organization
Cited Papers