The influence of calcium formate on the hydration of calcium sulfate hemihydrate

In this study, the influence of calcium formate (CF) on the hydration of a synthesized calcium sulfate hemihydrate (HH) powder was investigated. Isothermal calorimetry measurements showed that CF retards the hydration reaction of HH. This was confirmed by XRD of stored samples and pore solution analysis. Two retardation mechanisms were identified. The combination of pore solution and laser granulometric experiments revealed that firstly, the initial dissolution of hemihydrate decelerates because of high Ca²⁺ ion concentrations, donated by the faster dissolving CF. Secondly, the HCOO⁻ species of CF adsorb on surfaces of the gypsum crystals, as further pore solution measurements showed. This impedes their formation kinetic. The gypsum crystals exhibited anisotropic peak narrowing in XRD measurements when CF was added. This was caused by a morphology change, which could be verified using the anisotropic domain size morphology approach during Rietveld refinement analysis and SEM images. Gypsum crystals exhibit a blockier shape with CF addition compared to the usual acicular shape in pure water.