Hardening phenomenon of Portland cement suspensions monitored by Vicat test, isothermal calorimetry and oscillatory rheometry

This work was conducted to evaluate the hardening phenomenon of pastes formulated with Portland cements blended with limestone filler (CPIIF), ground blast furnace slag (CPIIE) or pozzolan (CPIIZ). Vicat test, isothermal conduction calorimetry and oscillatory rheometry were the methods used to monitor this transition. The results of Vicat test indicates the faster setting time of pozzolan cement, but no information before this time was obtained. Using isothermal calorimetry was possible to monitor the related changes to the chemical reactions since the first contact with water, and using rheometry, the rate and force of cement particles agglomeration. The main purpose of this work was not extensively explain the results of these three methods, but show that they are complementary to better explain the transition from fluid-to-solid behavior in function of different kind of mineral addition.