Influence of the specific surface area of alumina fillers on CAC hydration kinetics

For refractory application inert alumina fillers frequently are mixed with calcium aluminate cements to improve particle packaging and to reduce the demand of water for low-cement castables. This finally results in decreased porosity and higher strength. Investigations by isothermal heat flow calorimetry show that the presence of alumina filler material with high specific surface area leads to a shortening of the induction period of calcium aluminate cement hydration. The study also demonstrates that the specific surface area of the chosen alumina filler changes the starting point of the main hydration reaction and in consequence the setting time of the calcium aluminate cement mixture is strongly influenced. During the dormant period the heat flow of calcium aluminate cement hydration with coarse alumina filler material of lower specific surface area is characterised by negative values. By addition of filler with higher specific surface area, the surface available for heterogeneous nucleation can be increased. Owing to more available surfaces the critical energy barrier for stable nuclei formation can be reduced. This results in a positive heat flow during the dormant period and a shift of the main reaction to earlier points in time.