Influence of Mixing Liquid on the Properties of Calcium Aluminate Cement

Abstract

The effect of using Na2HPO4 solution as mixing liquid in the physicochemical and mechanical properties of calcium aluminate cement (CAC), with a view to a possible reinforcement additive of conventional α-TCP-based CPC was studied. The results showed that the degree of the hydration reaction of CaAl2O4 (CA) increased when Na2HPO4 solution was used as mixing liquid. The porosity of cement was also lower (37.9 ± 1.3 %) than for H2O (33.2 ± 3.6 %). The values of compressive strength for cements prepared with both mixing liquids were lower than 3 MPa due to the excessive L/P ratio employed and large porosity. After immersion in SBF, only the Al(OH)3 hydrate is observed and no other crystalline hydrated calcium aluminate nor calcium phosphate was formed in any of the cements. Both cements released Ca ions to, and removed P ions from SBF, being this effect more remarkable when Na2HPO4 was used. As for other CAC, no Al was released to the SBF and no potential toxicity due to this ion should be expected.