Cement hydration in the presence of black gram pulse

Naturally occurring black gram pulse (BGP) in the form of fine powder was used as an admixture during the hydration of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The hydration characteristics of OPC in the presence of different concentrations of BGP were studied with the help of calorimetric, differential scanning calorimetric, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-visible, Fourier transform-infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. The results suggested that BGP is adsorbed on the surface of cement/hydration products and a weak interaction occurs between them. Due to this interaction, BGP retards the hydration process of the cement. Mössbauer studies suggest that the addition of BGP in OPC increases the asymmetry of the electronic environment around Fe³⁺ ions and leads to the formation of nano-sized hydration products.