Physical Properties and Hydration Characteristics of Low-Heat Portland Cement at High-Altitude

High-altitude environments are characterized by low air pressures and temperature variations. Low-heat Portland cement (PLH) is a more energy-efficient alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC); however, the hydration properties of PLH at high altitudes have not been previously investigated. Therefore, in this study, the mechanical strengths and levels of the drying shrinkage of PLH mortars under standard, low-air-pressure (LP), and low-air-pressure and variable-temperature (LPT) conditions were evaluated and compared. In addition, the hydration characteristics, pore size distributions, and C-S-H Ca/Si ratio of the PLH pastes under different curing conditions were explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Compared with that of the PLH mortar cured under the standard conditions, the compressive strength of the PLH mortar cured under the LPT conditions was higher at an early curing stage but lower at a later curing stage. In addition, drying shrinkage under the LPT conditions developed rapidly at an early stage but slowly at a later stage. Moreover, the characteristic peaks of ettringite (AFt) were not observed in the XRD pattern after curing for 28 d, and AFt transformed into AFm under the LPT conditions. The pore size distribution characteristics of the specimens cured under the LPT conditions deteriorated, which was related to water evaporation and micro-crack formation at low air pressures. The low pressure hindered the reaction between belite and water, which contributed to a significant change in the C-S-H Ca/Si ratio in the early curing stage in the LPT environment.