Title:
Enhancing Strength and Reducing Porosity with Nucleation Seeding
Author(s):
Faisal Qadri
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F25_FaisalQadri.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/26/2025
Abstract:
Nano-sized seeds are emerging as a new class of commercially available chemical admixtures that serve as nucleation sites for additional hydration products. Different seeds have been used to enhance hydration such as C-S-H seeds. In this talk, we will share the latest update on synthesizing superfine AFt seeds using one-step co-precipitation method, producing well-dispersed AFt nano-seeds (D50 = 68 nm). Adding 0.5 wt% seeds into Type IL cement paste and mortar accelerates the main hydration peak by 3.6 h and increases the cumulative heat by 20% to 295 J.g-1, causing the compressive strength at day 3 to outperform the control mixtures at day 14. 27Al NMR confirms faster AFt formation and earlier monosulfoaluminate appearance. These seeds have the potential to encourage agencies and contractors using alternative cementitious materials and compensate for the accompanied strength reduction, consequently, reducing the CO2 footprint of the cement production.