Effects of Sample Preparation and Interpretation of Thermogravimetric Curves on Calcium Hydroxide in Hydrated Pastes and Mortars

Abstract

Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] is one of the major constituents of hydrated portland cement paste. Its content can be used to trace the progress of cement hydration or serve as an indicator of the extent of pozzolanic reaction. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method is often used to determine the Ca(OH)2 content because it is a relatively easy and fast procedure. However, no universally accepted method exists for the preparation of TGA specimens and for the interpretation of the resulting TGA curves. This paper presents an investigation on the contents of Ca(OH)2 in samples subjected to different preparation techniques. The results showed that a certain amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was produced as a result of carbonation during the sample preparation process. The degree of carbonation was dependent on the sample preparation, and carbonated Ca(OH)2 was considered to determine the accurate total Ca(OH)2 content. In addition, a modified interpretation of the TGA curve for Ca(OH)2 was suggested. In this interpretation, the mass losses caused by the other hydration products, except for the Ca(OH)2 and the carbonated Ca(OH)2, were considered so that the accurate content of Ca(OH)2 could be determined. The interpretation technique was verified by comparing the results with those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. Ultimately, the actual contents of Ca(OH)2 in pastes undergoing different sample preparation techniques were determined by using the modified interpretation of the TGA curve for the Ca(OH)2. The results showed that this interpretation yielded comparable contents of Ca(OH)2 in most of the sample preparation techniques used in this study.