Comparative Assessment of Effectiveness of Calcium Silicate Dispersions Produced Using Sucrose and Lactose as Components of Composite Cement Binder

Abstract

Silicate micro- and nano-additives are multifunctional in relation to cement systems. Their application can solve a wide range of technological problems while maintaining the economic efficiency of technical solutions. The effect of silicate additives and fillers is determined by their level of dispersion, due to which the technologies for producing nano- and submicro-sized dispersed materials are being developed. The combination of mechanochemical synthesis of modified calcium hydrosilicates with subsequent thermolysis makes it possible to produce calcium silicate dispersions (SCD), which differ in polymodality of the fractional composition including submicro (10–7–10–6 m) and microdimensional (≥10–6 m) modes. The main element of the technology is the use of modifying carbohydrate, which acts as a stabilizer of hydrated phases of silicates. A comparative study of SCD produced using sucrose (sSCD) and lactose (lSCD) revealed the effect of these carbohydrates on the properties of sSCD and lSCD, as well as their effectiveness as a component of cementitious composite binder. It was found that the level of adsorption of modifying carbohydrate determines the physical properties of SCD (granulometry, specific surface area). The relatively high residual content of free sucrose (0.24%) in the composition of sSCD prevents the consolidation of silicates nanoparticles formed during the thermolysis, causes a high content of submicro sized fractions and a high specific surface area with sSCD (26.3 ± 0.7 m2/g). Lactose is absorbed by the silicate phase; the residual content of free lactose does not exceed 0.028% of lSCD. The low content of stabilizing carbohydrate contributes to the development of nanoparticle consolidation, a decrease in the specific surface area of lSCD to 13.0 ± 0.2 m2/g and content of submicrosized fractions. The residual content of free carbohydrates and particle size characteristics of sSCD and lSCD determine the nature of their influence on Cement-SCD-based concrete setting and hardening. The presence of residual sucrose in the composition of sSCD and fine fractions determines the competitive nature of the processes of retardation of hardening and acceleration of hardening of the cement system due to the nucleation effect, as a result of which the curve of the setting time is extreme. In addition, the inhibitory effect of sucrose reduces the strength of concrete on the 7th day. By the 28th day, the inhibitory effect of sucrose has been overcome, and concrete samples demonstrate an 18% increase in compressive strength with a sSCD content of 30%. The low content of residual free lactose in the composition of lSCD causes the nucleation effect. As a result, there is a monotonous reduction in the setting time of concrete mix with an increase in the content of lSCD in the composition of HF, as well as a significant increase in concrete strength (up to 127%) on the 7th day. At the same time, on the 28th day the strength of concrete increases slightly