Fast in situ x-ray-diffraction studies of chemical reactions: A synchrotron view of the hydration of tricalcium aluminate

We report observations on the early hydration of tricalcium aluminate, the most reactive component of Portland cement, using rapid-energy dispersive diffraction on a high brilliance synchrotron source. In situ observations of the hydration process over short time scales, and through bulk samples, reveal an intermediate calcium aluminate hydrate appearing just prior to the formation of the final stable hydrate, demonstrating the nucleating role of this intermediate. The superior quality of the data is sufficient to yield concentration versus time plots for each phase over the whole hydration sequence. This improvement derives from being able to use smaller diffracting volumes and consequent removal of time smearing due to inhomogenetics, and thus now offers the possibility of extending the technique in terms of time resolution and diversity of system.