29Si and 27Al MAS NMR assessment of the C-(A-) S–H nanomolecular structure of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) modified with pyrogenic oxides

• Published in: Journal of the Indian Chemical Society 2022-06, Vol.99 (6), p.100443, Article 100443
• Main Authors: Korpa, Arjan, Dervishi, Sara, Volavsek, Janez, Gjyli, Silvana, Andoni, Adelaida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 27Al MAS NMR; 29Si MAS NMR; C-(A)S–H nanomolecular Structure; Pyrogenic oxide-containing UHPC
• ISSN: 0019-4522
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jics.2022.100443

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) that contains pyrogenic oxides (Pox) and has been heat-cured with microwave energy reaches as high as 420 MPa after 1 day. The influence of microwave curing on the strength gain is much more pronounced in UHPC than in normal concrete. 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR nanomolecular structure investigation of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) modified with nanoscale pozzolans (pyrogenic oxides) reveals significant differences from other concrete types that may explain such high early strength. There is an increase in polymerization degree of C-(A) S–H (C–S–H containing Al) phase of the UHPC modified with pyrogenic oxides, followed by a trend of substitution of silicon atoms on the Q₃ sites of C–S–H (calcium-silicate-hydrates) through aluminum atoms. The mean chain length (MCL) and degree of connectivity (Dc) are the highest for pyrogenic oxides containing UHPC that have been cured with microwave energy. The increase of polymerization degree is more pronounced for alumina-based pyrogenic oxide containing UHPC.