The hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S) with three grain sizes of monoclinic (M) and triclinic (T) modifications and on their thermally activated samples were investigated by exposure to water vapour at 80°C for 60 days. The products were investigated by XRD, TG and N2 adsorption. The smaller the particle size the greater was the hydration for both dried and activated samples from (M). In the activated samples a hydrate with 2θ values of 38.4°, 44.6° and 48.6° could be identified. Hydration increased with particle size for the unactivated (T) samples but after activation the intermediate size exhibited enhanced hydration. Thermal treatment at 950°C of (T) samples increased the surface active centers on the expense of those in the bulk. Changes produced in surface texture upon activation and/or hydration are discussed.
