Effect of pore solution expression on solid composition of cement paste

Pore solution expression (PSE) is the most commonly used method to obtain the aqueous phase in cementitious material. However, the high pressure applied on the sample during PSE can affect the composition of the solid phase. An experimental study on the chemical and mineral composition of cement paste before and after PSE was conducted. The results indicate that a small part of the alkali contained in the samples was excluded during PSE, depending mainly on the alkali concentration in the pore solution. Due to the expulsion of interlayer water in calcium silicate hydrate under high pressure, PSE reduced the bound water content (measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)). The portlandite content determined by TGA was not affected by PSE, but it led to an overestimation of portlandite by means of quantitative X-ray diffraction, because of the enhanced preferred orientation of the (001) plane under the applied high pressure. In addition, the size of the portlandite crystals decreased to some extent due to the creep caused by pressure. The content of the hemicarbonate phase was found to decrease slightly after PSE, which may be due to increased solubility under high pressure.