Effect of Triisopropanolamine on the Compressive Strength and Early Hydration of Cement at Low Temperature

Abstract

Triisopropanolamine (TIPA) was used as an early strength component to study its effects on mortar strength, cement paste setting time and early hydration characteristic of cement. And the early strength mechanism of TIPA at low temperature of 5 °C was also discussed. The results showed that, at 5 °C, the incorporation of TIPA promoted the condensation of cement paste, shortened the initial and final setting time, and accelerated the strength development of specimens at all ages, among which the strength after 3 d increased significantly. The 1, 3, 7, and 28 d compressive strength ratios of the mortars mixed with 1% TIPA could reach 196%, 179%, 160% and 110% respectively, and the mortar strength after 3 d exceeded that of the contrast sample cured at 20 °C. Under low temperature condition, TIPA could promote the hydration reaction of cement, shorten the induction period and advance the acceleration period. Furthermore, the maximum heat release rate and cumulative heat release quantity would be all increased, and the cumulative heat release of the cement mixed with TIPA hydrated for 12 h and 7 d increased 73% and 38% respectively. TIPA could shorten the nucleation and crystal growth (NG) stage and increase its hydration degree significantly, so it promoted cement hydration reaction. Additionally, the hydration reaction rates in phase boundary reaction (I) phase and diffusion reaction (D) phase were increased, and the duration of I process was prolonged, thereby the development of specimen strength would be accelerated. TIPA did not obviously change the types of hydration products, but increased the content of Ca(OH)2 in the samples and the degree of cement hydration. After hydration to 7 d, large amounts of hydration products, whose surface was smooth, were formed and bonded into sheets, and the structural density of samples improved significantly.