The influence of concentrations of cement particles on rheological behavior and thixotropy of portland cement paste

Abstract

The influence of concentration of cement particles φc on rheological behavior (flow behavior, dynamic yield stress, plastic viscosity) and thixotropy of the Portland cement CEM I 42.5 R paste was investigated in this research. Also, thixotropy was evaluated by index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste. Concentration of cement particles φc ranged from 0.434 to 0.518. Investigation was carried out using rotational rheometer Rheotest RN4.1 with coaxial cylinders. The tests revealed that as φc decreases from 0.518 to 0.434, rheological behavior of Portland cement paste is improved: yield stress decreases from 12.7 Pa to 7.1 Pa as well as plastic viscosity – from 4.3 Pa·s to 0.88 Pa·s. The exponential correlation between φc and index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste was found. As φc decreases from 0.518 to 0.434, index of reversible structure of Portland cement paste, which describes a thixotropy, decreases from 5291 Pa·min to 977 Pa·min.