The Rheology of Cementitious Materials: Chemistry, Colloids and Rocks

Published

May 1, 2004

Author(s)

Robert J. Flatt, Nicos Martys

Abstract

Knowledge of colloidal science has proven essential in the development of a new generation of dispersants for concrete. These polymer molecules induce steric repulsion between cement particles, reducing agglomeration and allow high workability to be obtained for concrete. Such concrete can even be made as a self-compacting material, avoiding the health hazard associated with vibration when placing normal concrete. While the linkage between interparticle forces and the rheological behavior of cementitious materials is only semi-quantitative, recent advances in the modeling of concrete rheology are showing very promising results in terms of handling particles of arbitrary size, size distribution and shape. Despite the potential of such models, they need reliable input on the dispersion efficiency of the dispersant. This appears to be the next big research challenge in this field and requires a true detailed examination of the interaction of the dispersant with the hydrating cement at the molecular level.

Citation

Materials Research Bulletin

Volume

29

Issue

No. 5

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

aggregates, cement, colloids, construction materials, rheology

Citation

Flatt, R. and Martys, N. (2004), The Rheology of Cementitious Materials: Chemistry, Colloids and Rocks, Materials Research Bulletin (Accessed September 15, 2024)