The Apparent Activation Energy of a Novel Low-Calcium Silicate Hydraulic Binder

In this work, the apparent activation energy (E(a)) of a novel low-calcium binder was, for the first time, experimentally determined, using a calorimetric approach. Additionally, a correlation between the E(a), measured at the acceleration period with the C/S ratio of the hydration product is proposed. The E(a) of the prepared pastes was determined through isothermal calorimetry tests by calculating the specific rate of reaction at different temperatures, using two different approaches. When comparing the E(a), at the acceleration period of this novel binder with the one published for alite and belite, we observed that its value is higher, which may be a result of a different hydration product formed with a distinct C/S ratio. Finally, to study the temperature effect on the compressive strength at early ages, a set of experiments with mortars was performed. The results showed that the longer the curing time at 35 °C, the higher the compressive strength after 2 days of hydration, which suggests a higher initial development of hydration products. This study also indicated that the novel binder has a higher sensitivity to temperature when compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC).