The simulation of hydration of Portland cement blended with chemical inert filler

The addition of chemical inert filler in blended cement, such as limestone or chemical inert silica fume, will produce a physical effect on cement hydration. Due to the high surface area of inert filler in the mixtures, it provides sites for the nucleation and growth of hydration products, thus improving the hydration rate of cement compounds and consequently increasing the strength at early age. This paper proposes a model of hydration of Portland cement blended with chemical inert filler. This model considers the influence of water to cement ratio, cement particle size, cement composition and addition of chemical inert filler on hydration. The heat evolution, degree of hydration and porosity are obtained as accompanied results in hydration process. The prediction results agree well with experiment results.