An advanced single-particle model for C3S hydration - validating the statistical independence of model parameters

An advanced continuum-based multi-physical single particle model was recently introduce for the hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S). In this model, the dissolution and the precipitation events are modeled as two different yet simultaneous chemical reactions. Product precipitation involves a nucleation and growth mechanism wherein nucleation is assumed to happen only at the surface of the unreacted core and product growth is characterized via a two-step densification mechanism having rapid growth of a low density initial product followed by slow densification. Although this modeling strategy has been shown to nicely mimic all stages of C3S hydration – dissolution, dormancy (induction), the onset of rapid hydration, the transition to slow hydration and prolonged reaction – the major criticism is that many adjustable parameters are required. If formulated correctly, however, the model parameters are shown here to be statistically independent and significant.