Extended Shelf Life Cement: Principles, Microstructural Analysis, And Physical-Mechanical Properties Of The Cement And Concrete

Exposure of cement to surrounding atmosphere causes absorption of moisture from air and irreversible chemical interaction of the cement with water - hydration. As a result, the cement partially loses its activity. The deterioration of cement during transportation and storage limits its guaranteed shelf life to a period of usually not more than six months. This study introduces a method for extending the shelf life of cement by treatment with alkyl ketene dimer wax. The morphology of the hydrophobic cements were qualitatively assessed by scanning electron microscopy to assess the dispersal of the finest size fractions. Storage of the cements was conducted under accelerated aging conditions with subsequent making of concrete, followed by measurement of compressive strength and sorptivity. The results demonstrated a notably longer shelf life than ordinary Portland cement, with improvements in strength and lower water permeability of the concrete. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.