Nucleation Effect Research Articles

The Influence of Quartz Powder on the Mechanical–Thermal–Chemical–Durability Properties of Cement-Based Materials

Using industrial by-products to replace cement is an important way to reduce carbon emissions in the cement industry. The purpose of this article is to understand the effect of quartz powder on the properties of cement-based materials. Experimental studies were conducted on the macroscopic and microscopic properties of cement-based materials mixed with quartz powder to evaluate their feasibility as a replacement for cement. The substitution rates of quartz powder were 0% (Qu0), 7.5% (Qu7.5), and 15% (Qu15). The test time was from 1 day to 28 days, and the main results are as follows: In the early stage of the hydration reaction, as the amount of quartz powder substitution increases, the cumulative hydration heat increases. This is mainly because the nucleation effect of quartz powder accelerates the hydration reaction of cement. In the later stage of the hydration reaction, as the amount of quartz powder substitution increases, the cumulative heat of hydration decreases. This is mainly due to the diluting effect of quartz powder. For Qu0, Qu7.5, and Qu15, the decrease in compressive strength after 1 day is not obvious. The decrease in compressive strength at 28 days is more obvious. Overall, there are exponential relationships between the UPV measurement or surface resistivity results and the compressive strength measurement results at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. The XRD test results show that the main products of the reaction are AFt, CH, Hc, and Mc. From Day 1 to Day 28, the content of Mc becomes evident. The test results for TG showed that, as the amount of quartz powder substitution increases, the mass loss decreases. For different specimens of Qu0, Qu7.5, and Qu15 at different test times (3 and 28 days), there is an exponential function relationship between chemically bound water and strength. A numerical hydration model is proposed for cement–quartz binary blends. The parameters of the hydration model are determined based on the hydration heat normalized by the cement mass. Moreover, the hydration heat at 28 days is calculated using the proposed model. The strength development of all specimens and all test ages can be expressed as an exponential function of hydration heat.

Effect of nano SiO2 on rheology, nucleation seeding, hydration mechanism, mechanical properties and microstructure amelioration of ultra-high-performance concrete

The use of Nano SiO2 products will likely change cement, concrete construction sector. Their stability, low toxicity, and ability to functionalise with chemicals and polymers have drawn interest. When mixed with hybrid nanomaterials, nanostructured silica with unique geometric properties can improve biomaterial conjugates. Few scientists have studied the effects of Nano SiO2 on cement-based composites microstructural characterisation and mechanical behaviour. In this study four combinations were made by adding 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% Nano SiO2 by cement weight. The tested Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) mixes with various mechanical and microstructural characterisation techniques utilised. The finding suggests that the UHPC mixture with 2% Nano SiO2 has better mechanical and microstructural capabilities than the others. The study found that UHPC samples with more Nano SiO2 had higher mechanical strength than the reference sample. The study found that adding UHPC 2% Nano SiO2 to the mix increased compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength by 56%, 37%, and 28%, respectively. In UPV testing, this UHPC NS-2% mix had the greatest average velocity 4883 m/s and 4951 m/s for 28 and 90 days, suggesting a stronger concrete matrix. In optimum UHPC mix due to nucleation effect of Nano SiO2 and hydration of cement generates to more Calcium Silicate hydrate gel formation and less ca/si ratio is 0.54. It will lead to produce the dense UHPC with lowest porosity. The environmental and economic benefits of UHPC with Nano SiO2 make it a suitable building material for various civil engineering applications.

Is lactic acid a misunderstood trigger of gout attack for a century?

A gout attack could be viewed as a nucleation event. Many reports have shown that the typical molecular structure of crystallization inhibitors usually contains carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which could interact with solute molecules through hydrogen bonding, thereby suppressing the nucleation and growth of crystals. Since 1923, l-lactic acid (LA), a molecule with structural features of inhibitors, has been speculated to be a trigger for acute gout because metabolized LA temporarily reduces uric acid excretion and leads to a slow increase in serum uric acid concentration. However, many cases of gout presumably triggered by elevated lactate in a very short period of 4 h are often inexplicable. Here, we present the unexpected result that LA has a significant “opposite effect” on the nucleation and growth of gouty pathological crystals, which is that as the concentration of the additive LA increases, the nucleation and growth of the crystals is suppressed and then facilitated. This approach may help our clarifying the long-standing “misunderstandings” and further understanding the association between metabolized LA and increased risk of gout attacks. Finally, a novel mechanism called "tailed-made occupancy (TMO)" was used to explain the nucleation and crystallization effects of LA on sodium urate monohydrate (MSUM).

Influence of Eggshell Powder on the Properties of Cement-Based Materials.

Replacing cement with industrial by-products is an important way to achieve carbon neutrality in the cement industry. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of eggshell powder on cement hydration properties, and to evaluate its feasibility as a substitute for cement. The substitution rates of eggshell powder are 0%, 7.5%, and 15%. Studying the heat of hydration and macroscopic properties can yield the following results. First: The cumulative heat of hydration based on each gram of cementitious material falls as the eggshell powder content rises. This is a result of the eggshell powder's diluting action. However, the cumulative heat of hydration per gram of cement rises due to the nucleation effect of the eggshell powder. Second: The compressive strengths of ES0, ES7.5, and ES15 samples at 28 days of age are 54.8, 43.4, and 35.5 MPa, respectively. Eggshell powder has a greater negative impact on the compressive strength. The effect of eggshell powder on the speed and intensity of ultrasonic waves has a similar trend. Third: As the eggshell powder content increases, the resistivity gradually decreases. In addition, we also characterize the microscopic properties of the slurry with added eggshell powder. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) shows that, as the age increases from 1 day to 28 days, hemicaboaluminate transforms into monocaboaluminate. As the content of the eggshell powder increases, FTIR analysis finds a slight decrease in the content of CSH. Similarly, thermogravimetric (TG) results also show a decrease in the production of calcium hydroxide. Although the additional nucleation effect of eggshell powder promotes cement hydration and generates more portlandite, it cannot offset the loss of portlandite caused by the decrease in cement. Last: A numerical hydration model is presented for cement-eggshell powder binary blends. The parameters of the hydration model are determined based on hydration heat normalized by cement mass. Moreover, the hydration heat until 28 days is calculated using the proposed model. The strength development of all specimens and all test ages can be expressed as an exponential function of hydration heat.

The effects of nucleation and species functional traits on tree seedling performance in the early stage of ecological restoration

The effects of nucleation and species functional traits on tree seedling performance in the early stage of ecological restoration

An innovative strategy to prepare fine-grained Mg-Al alloys with a superior strength-ductility synergy via wire-arc directed energy deposition

Fine grain structures are necessary in obtaining superior mechanical properties of Mg alloys fabricated by wire-arc directed energy deposition (DED), which is still challenging nowadays. In the present work, a novel strategy by the synergistic effect of arc oscillation and feeding of SiC particles (SiCps), i.e., WADED-OS, has been proposed, which is extremely effective in grain refinement of the AZ31 thin-wall component. The average grain size of the WADED-OS AZ31 thin-wall component (∼19 μm) decreases by ∼81% compared to the counterpart fabricated via conventional straight deposition (∼102.4 μm). Introducing arc oscillation can reduce the temperature gradient in the molten pool, which promotes the transition from columnar grains to equiaxed grains. At the same time, the incorporation of SiCps can decrease the average grain size due to the heterogeneous nucleation and grain growth inhibition effects. The thin-wall component produced via the novel WADED-OS strategy exhibits a superior combination of strength and ductility, i.e., the ultimate tensile strength and elongation are 265 ± 2 MPa and 19.8 ± 2.3% along the deposition direction, respectively. This study proposes an innovative strategy for achieving wire-arc DED Mg alloy components with fine microstructures and superior mechanical properties.

High-temperature stability of ambient-cured one-part alkali-activated materials incorporating graphene nanoplatelets for thermal energy storage

This study aims to develop an ambient-cured nano-engineered one-part alkali-activated materials with excellent thermal characteristics using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and ternary precursors. Their compressive strength, thermal properties, microstructure, pore structure were characterised through visual observation, isothermal calorimetry, TGA, XRD, SEM/EDS and X-ray μCT after high temperature exposure to 200–800 °C. The research findings indicated high strength characteristics of the developed AAM (∼80 MPa) at ambient condition, which could further reach to approx. 100 MPa after being heated up to 400 °C. GNPs provided nucleation effects for promoting geopolymerisation and crystallisation. As observed from X-ray CT, a high extent of severe cracks initiated from the core and propagated towards the surface. From SEM/EDS analysis, high Na/Al and Na/Si ratios or low Si/Al and Ca/Si ratios highly correlated to thermal stability. Overall, the research outcomes implied the promising use of the nano-engineered AAMs for thermal energy storage (TES) at 400 °C.

Effect of Operational Variables on Supercritical Foaming of Caffeic Acid-Loaded Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Blends for the Development of Sustainable Materials.

Expanded polystyrene will account for 5.3% of total global plastic production in 2021 and is widely used for food packaging due to its excellent moisture resistance and thermal insulation. However, some of these packages are often used only once before being discarded, generating large amounts of environmentally harmful plastic waste. A very attractive alternative to the conventional methods used for polymer processing is the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) since it has mass-transfer properties adapted to the foam morphology, generating different path lengths for the diffusion of active compounds within its structure and can dissolve a wide range of organic molecules under supercritical conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of operational variables on the process of caffeic acid (CA) impregnation and subsequent foaming of polylactic acid (PLA) as well as two PLA/poly(butylene-co-terephthalate-adipate) (PBAT) blends using scCO2. The results showed an increase in the degree of crystallinity of the CA-impregnated samples due to the nucleation effect of the active compound. On the other hand, SEM micrographs of both films and foams showed significant differences due to the presence of PBAT and its low miscibility with PLA. Finally, the results obtained in this work contribute to the knowledge of the important parameters to consider for the implementation of the impregnation and foaming process of PLA and PLA/PBAT blends with potential use in food packaging.

Improvement of the properties of poly (L-lactide)/ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glyceryl methacrylate terpolymer (EGA) by the introduction of stereocomplex polylactide crystals

Ternary blends comprising poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glyceryl methacrylate terpolymer (EGA), and poly(D-lactide) (PDLA) were melt blended using low-temperature method to obtain blends with balanced properties. The formation of stereocomplex polylactide (SC-PLA) crystals was verified by torque changes and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results. The SC-PLA crystals formed a percolating network in the PLLA matrix at a concentration of 2 wt% PDLA, and blend melt presented solid-like rheological behavior. Attributing to the increased viscosity ratio between PLLA and EGA, the size of dispersed EGA phase increased. The crystallization of PLLA was significantly promoted because of the nucleation effect of SC-PLA crystals. The PLLA/EGA/2 %PDLA ternary blends with elongation at break of 138 % and impact strength of 72.3 kJ/m2 exhibited excellent toughness. These ternary blends demonstrated exceptional crystallization ability and tailored rheological and mechanical properties, opening a new path for developing high-performance PLLA-based materials in packaging industry.

Comparative study of CaO and CaCO3 on microstructure refinement, mechanical and corrosion resistance of AM60 alloy

Grain refinement is a crucial technique for enhancing the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys. In this study, the addition of 0.3 wt% CaO and 0.3 wt% CaCO3 successfully refined the AM60 alloy, resulting in a significant reduction in the average grain size from 326 μm to 96 μm (when adding CaCO3). The refined grain size of the as-cast AM60 alloy led to an increase in both tensile strength and yield strength to 118.2 MPa and 72.6 MPa, representing a respective increase of 35% and 23% compared to the alloy without the refiner. As results of EBSD, it is verified that the basal slip system (0001)<112‾0> has a higher Schmid factor after adding CaO, which indicates that this system has higher activity. The substitution reaction between CaO and Mg can produce synergistic effects from the solute effect of Ca and the nucleating effect of residual CaO, which play an important role in grain refinement. Due to the fine grain size and diffuse distribution of the second phase in the AM60-CaCO3 alloy and the thermal decomposition of CaCO3, which consumes the aluminum element in the matrix, the content of the β-phase (Mg17Al12) is reduced. Consequently, this reduces the electric coupling effect between the β-phase and the magnesium matrix. The AM60-CaCO3 alloy exhibited the most superior corrosion resistance, achieving a corrosion rate of only 1.01 mm y−1, representing a 48.9% reduction in corrosion rate compared to the AM60 alloy.

Heterogeneous nucleation induced A. pernyi/B. mori silk fibroin coatings on AZ31 biometals with enhanced corrosion resistance, adhesion and biocompatibility

Silk fibroin coatings on biomedical magnesium alloys have garnered significant attention due to their enhanced corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, the utilization of wild A. pernyi silk fibroin, known for its RGD sequence that facilitates tissue regeneration, presents a challenge for corrosion-resistant coatings on magnesium alloys due to its weak adhesion and high dissolution rate. In this study, we employed hexafluoroisopropanol as a solvent to blend A. pernyi silk fibroin with B. mori silk fibroin. The resulting blended fibroin coating at a 3:7 mass ratio exhibited a heterogeneous nucleation effect, enhancing β-sheet content (32.3 %) and crystallinity (28.6 %). This improved β-sheet promoted the “labyrinth effect” with an Icorr of 2.15 × 10−6 A cm−2, resulting in significantly improved corrosion resistance, which is two orders of magnitude lower than that of pure magnesium alloy. Meanwhile, the increased content of exposed serine in zigzag β-sheet contributes to a higher adhesion strength. Cell cytotoxicity evaluation confirmed the enhanced cell adhesion and bioactivity. This work provides a facile approach for wild A. pernyi silk fibroin coatings on magnesium alloys with enhanced corrosion resistance, adhesion and biocompatibility.

Modifying the properties of polyamide 6 with high‐performance environmentally friendly nano‐ and microsized reinforcing materials

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the morphological and mechanical properties of hybrid composites with a polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix and reinforced with basalt fibers (BFs) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). The presence of reinforcing materials fundamentally changed the behavior of the molecules, which was morphologically manifested in the change in the ratio of the rigid and the mobile amorphous phase. The x‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic images showed the crystal nucleating effect of the halloysite nanotubes. Based on these, we concluded that around the basalt fibers, an interphase is formed, while around the nanoparticles, a two‐layer interphase is created, the inner layer of which is semicrystalline, while the outer layer is rigid amorphous (RA). The nanoparticles are surrounded by a semicrystalline interphase, which is surrounded by an RA interphase. This overlaps with the interphase of the basalt fibers, therefore the halloysite nanotubes can effectively help the stress transfer from the matrix to the basalt fibers. The mechanical properties of the samples also reflected this: the hybrid composites had a significantly higher tensile modulus, tensile strength, and an unchanged elongation at break compared to the composite reinforced with only basalt fiber.Highlights Environmentally friendly polyamide 6 matrix hybrid composites were prepared. Uniform distribution of halloysite nanotubes was achieved. Enhanced mechanical properties were observed for hybrid composites. Halloysite nanotubes aid stress transfer from matrix to basalt fibers. Halloysite nanotubes act as crystalline nucleating agents.

Synergistic Improvement in Setting and Hardening Performance of OPC-CSA Binary Blended Cement: Combined Effect of Nano Calcium Carbonate and Aluminum Sulfate

The combined effect and corresponding mechanism of nano calcium carbonate (NC) and aluminum sulfate (AS) on the setting and hardening performance of binary blended cement (ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA)) were evaluated through multiple experiments, including setting time, calorimetry, compressive strength, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed that, as compared to OPC, OPC-CSA binary blended cement exhibited reduced setting time but decreased early strength, which could be caused by the depressed silicate phase hydration due to the fast supply of aluminate ions during the hydration of aluminate-contained phases contained in CSA. However, through the combined addition of NC and AS, the depressed silicate phase hydration was greatly promoted by NC due to its nucleation effect, and the reduced early strength was significantly improved. Further analysis indicates that the combined addition of NC and AS can promote the formation of C-S-H gel and decrease the porosity of the hardened OPC-CSA binary paste. In this way, one promising repair material with rapid setting and hardening properties was prepared by OPC-CSA binary blended cement with the combined addition of NC and AS.

Nucleation of a key beta-turn promotes cyclotide oxidative folding

Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides characterized by a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and a cystine knot motif comprised of three disulfide bonds. Formation of this motif via in vitro oxidative folding can be challenging and result in misfolded isomers with non-native disulfide connectivities. Here we investigated the effect of β-turn nucleation on cyclotide oxidative folding. Two types of β-turn mimics were grafted into kalata B1 (kB1), individually replacing each of the four β-turns in the folded cyclotide. Insertion of D-Pro-Gly into loop 5 was beneficial to the folding of both cyclic kB1 and a linear form of the peptide. The linear grafted analog folded four-times faster in aqueous conditions than cyclic kB1 in optimized conditions. Additionally, the cyclic analogue folded without the need for redox agents by transitioning through a native-like intermediate that was on-pathway to product formation. Kalata B1 is from the Mobius subfamily of cyclotides. Grafting D-Pro-Gly into loop 5 of cyclotides from two other subfamilies also had a beneficial effect on folding. Our findings demonstrate the importance of a β-turn nucleation site for cyclotide oxidative folding, which could be adopted as a chemical strategy to improve the in vitro folding of diverse cystine-rich peptides.

Air void system and freezing-thawing resistance of concrete composite with the incorporation of thermo-expansive polymeric microspheres

Air-entraining agent (AEA) was first used in concrete in 1930’s to improve freezing – thawing resistance of concrete. After about 90 years of experience, many debates have been raised regarding the benefit of durability improvement using AEA in concrete. Under this circumstance, polymeric microspheres show promising ability to replace the AEA with the purpose of entraining air in concrete. In this study, thermo-expansive polymeric microspheres were added to concrete. As a comparison, concrete specimens with the addition of AEA were also prepared. The air contents of freshly mixed concrete and hardened concrete were characterized. In addition, compressive strength development was measured. Moreover, the microstructure and air-void system of concrete was characterized by multiple methods. Finally, the dynamic modulus of elasticity and scaling of concrete beams after the cyclic freezing–thawing attack were evaluated. It was found that compared with the addition of AEA, adding polymeric microspheres entrained comparable air content in concrete. The void size distribution of polymeric microspheres mixed concrete is finer than that of AEA mixed concrete, which provides comparable freezing–thawing resistance of concrete in the viewpoint of dynamic modulus. However, due to the potential “internal curing” and nucleation effects with the presence of microspheres, the strength of microsphere-mixed concrete is slightly higher than that of plain concrete, and freezing–thawing caused surface scaling of concrete mixed with microspheres is much less severe than that incorporated with AEA.

Accelerated Weathering Testing (AWT) and Bacterial Biodegradation Effects on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/Rapeseed Microfiber Biocomposites Properties.

In the context of sustainable materials, this study explores the effects of accelerated weathering testing and bacterial biodegradation on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/rapeseed microfiber biocomposites. Accelerated weathering, simulating outdoor environmental conditions, and bacterial biodegradation, representing natural degradation processes in soil, were employed to investigate the changes in the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of these materials during its post-production life cycle. Attention was paid to the assessment of the change of structural, mechanical and calorimetric properties of alkali and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO)-treated rapeseed microfiber (RS)-reinforced plasticized PHBV composites before and after accelerated weathering. Results revealed that accelerated weathering led to an increase in stiffness, but a reduction in tensile strength and elongation at break, of the investigated PHBV biocomposites. Additionally, during accelerated weathering, the crystallinity of PHBV biocomposites increased, especially in the presence of RS, due to both the hydrolytic degradation of the polymer matrix and the nucleating effect of the filler. It has been observed that an increase in PHBV crystallinity, determined by DSC measurements, correlates with the intensity ratio I1225/1180 obtained from FTIR-ATR data. The treatment of RS microfibers increased the biodegradation capability of the developed PHBV composites, especially in the case of chemically untreated RS. All the developed PHBV composites demonstrated faster biodegradation in comparison to neat PHBV matrix.

Design and Development of Sustainable Polyurethane Foam: A Proof‐of‐Concept as Customizable Packaging for Cultural Heritage Applications

World cultural heritage is an invaluable resource and must be preserved. Conventional packaging materials, such as polystyrene, polyurethane (PU) foams, paper‐like tissue, and nylon fabric, are petrol‐based. According to Agenda 2030, and Green Deal directives, the development of alternative bio‐based materials has gained significant scientific and technological relevance. In this scenario, a new sustainable packaging material for safe storage and transporting of the artifacts, based on a sustainable PU foam filled with 6 wt% of Zeolite 4A, is proposed. Zeolite 4A dispersion into PU matrix imparts higher compression strength and energy absorption capability with respect to unloaded materials (7‐fold increase), owing to its remarkable cell nucleating effect. The proposed foam can adsorb water vapor, up to 29 wt%, thus contributing to regulating the humidity around the artifact. A remarkable advantage of the developed foam is the possibility to use it as plaster for precisely casting the article to protect, resulting in strongly improved handling, protection, and transportation safety with respect to conventional packaging solutions. A proof‐of‐concept workflow is proposed, consisting of: 1) three‐dimensional (3D) scanning of the original artifact; 2) its replication through 3D printing; 3) the use of such a replica to prepare a tailored cast of the artifact shape.

Algal Biochar-Metal Nanocomposite Particles Tailor the Hydration Kinetics and Compressive Strength of Portland Cement Paste.

Biochar can improve the mechanical properties of portland cement paste and concrete. In this work, we produced algal biochar-zinc (biochar-Zn) and algal biochar-calcium (biochar-Ca) nanocomposite particles and studied their effect on the hydration kinetics and compressive strength of cement paste. Results show that 3 wt % biochar-Zn delayed peak heat evolution during cement hydration from 8.3 to 10.0 h, while 3 wt % addition of biochar-Ca induced a minor acceleration of peak heat from 8.3 to 8.2 h. Both biochar-Zn and biochar-Ca nanocomposite particles increased the compressive strength of cement paste at 28 days by 22.6 and 17.0%, respectively. Data substantiate that retardation or minor acceleration of the reaction kinetics was due exclusively to the presence of Zn and Ca phases, respectively, while the enhanced strength was attributed to a nucleation effect induced by such phases and the internal curing effect of biochar.

Effect of surface activity of recycled fine aggregates from clay bricks on the hydration, microstructure and chloride transport of concrete

Use of recycled fine aggregates from clay bricks (RFCB) in the preparation of eco-friendly concrete was proposed to tackle the river sand (RS) shortage and satisfy the construction demand. This study explored the surface activity of RFCB influenced by additional water and particle size distribution (PSD) on the hydration, microstructure and chloride transport of concrete. Compared to the RS, more silica and alumina released from RFCB depending on its PSD under alkaline environment was noted, which verified its appreciable surface activity. Overall, the presence of RFCB could hinder early hydration process because of the higher additional water, while the surface activity and nucleation effect supplied from finer RFCB were beneficial for the improvement of the hydration kinetics. Furthermore, inclusion of RFCB increased the total pore volume and porosity but performed better in refining the pore size distribution, thus decreased the average pore diameter. The surface activity of RFCB decreased CH content while increased chemical bond water and additional hydrates, thereby leading to enhancement of the compactness of interface, cement matrix and surface rim. More importantly, RFCB helped to decrease the chloride migration coefficient and electric flux. Though the surface activity of RFCB was beneficial in the strength development, it could not offset a deteriorated influence of porous RFCB with a higher replacement.

Effect of recycled brick powder with various particle features on early-age hydration, water state, and rheological properties of blended cement paste in the context of 3D Printing

Partially replacing cement with recycled brick powder (RBP) in 3D printing concrete (3DPC) is an effective way to reduce carbon footprint and resolve the construction and demolition waste disposal problems. Understanding the impact of RBP on the rheological parameters of 3DPC is of utmost importance, given its critical role in ensuring the requisite printability. Here, three types of RBPs with various particle features were prepared by mechanical grinding, and their effects on several rheological parameters of cement-RBP pastes were characterized by hydration kinetic and water state distribution. Results show that incorporating RBP increases the growth rate of static yield stress due to the nucleation effect in the first 2 h. The initial static yield stress and thixotropy of cement-RBP pastes are governed by morphology effect and Debye length, while the mean interparticle distance and water lubrication effect under shear process play the dominant role in dynamic yield stress. RBP can promote the evolution of structural build-up and thixotropy of cement paste, all of which have a significant positive impact on filament shape retention and structural stability of 3DPC.