Measurement of high-alumina cement-calcium carbonate reactions using DTA

Hydrating high-alumina cement will react with calcium carbonate to form the complex mineral calcium carboaluminate hydrate, 3CaO.Al2O3.CaCO3.12H2O. This mineral is reported to be capable of providing strength in concrete and so may provide an alternative to the minerals normally found in the hydration of high-alumina cement, which may under certain conditions convert to other minerals with a loss in strength. Some doubt has been cast on the stability of calcium carboaluminate hydrate and it has been found that in hydrated high-alumina cement, calcium carboaluminate hydrate decomposes at temperatures in excess of 60°C. Cube compressive strength tests on high-alumina cement and high-alumina cement-calcium carbonate pastes have shown that the latter have a lower strength than pastes made with high-alumina cement alone. When cured at 50°C the high-alumina cement-calcium carbonate pastes show a loss in strength with curing time. Cements made with the high-alumina cement-calcium carbonate mixture always have a lower strength than those made with high-alumina cement alone and so no advantage is gained from their use.