Hardening of hydraulic cement

In This Section

Other Sources for Answers

Search other resources on the ACI website for answers to technical questions

Technical Questions

ACI Committees, Membership, and Staff have answered common questions on a variety of concrete related topics.



Hardening of hydraulic cement

Q. What causes hardening of hydraulic cement (or concrete)?

 

A. When hydraulic cement is mixed with water to form a paste, the phases of the cement react with the water (hydration) to form a slowly developing cementitious structure that adheres to and binds together the fine-and coarse-aggregate particles to form hardened concrete. The most abundant hydration product is calcium-silicate hydrate. As long as moisture and unhydrated cement particles are present, the hydration products continue to form, increasing the strength of the concrete.

 

References: SP-1(02); E3-13

Topics in Concrete: Cementitious Material; Materials; Pozzolan