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Structural build-up is of great importance in many concrete applications, such as formwork pressure, multi-layers casting, slip form paving, stability, and 3D printing. In this paper, the growth of static yield stress (τ s ) and thixotropic area were used to characterize the structural build-up of cement paste. The effects of different mineral admixtures, i.e. silica fume (SF), ground slag (GS), fly ash (FA), attapulgite (AG), nano calcium carbonate (NC), and nano silica (NS) on the structural build-up of cement pastes were studied. Calorimetric curves, zeta potential and conductivity of the pastes were also measured. Results showed that thixotropic behavior characterized by the growth of τ s and thixotropic area gave different ranking on cement pastes with various mineral admixtures. NS, AG, NC and SF increased the growth of τ s over 120 min, and NS was the most effective one. FA and GS decreased the growth of τ s over 120 min. Hydration of cement played a dominant role in the structural build-up of cement paste. However, high hydration rate didn’t always lead to high structural build-up rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The early properties of cement pastes modified by anionic, cationic and nonionic PAM were contrastively studied. • The absorption and hydration of cement pastes with different ionic PAMs were investigated. Polyacrylamide (PAM) has been widely applied as a viscosity modifier to optimize the workability of cement-based materials, but PAMs with different ionic types may show various effects, which is often ignored in practical engineering. In this paper, the early properties including the rheology, flowability, and setting of cement pastes modified by three ionic PAMs (anionic APAM, cationic CPAM, and nonionic NPAM) were contrastively studied. The absorption and hydration of cement pastes with different ionic PAMs were further investigated. Moreover, the contributions of physical flocculation and chemical hydration on the structural build-up of cement pastes were quantified by combining the static yield stress and heat release at the same time scale. The results indicated that three ionic PAMs showed different effects on the structural build-up, fluidity and setting of fresh cement pastes, which were dominated by the different physical flocculation and hydration retardation effects of three ionic PAMs on the cement pastes. The order of flocculation and hydration retardation effects of these three ionic PAMs was APAM ≫ NPAM > CPAM, which was concentration-dependence and evolved over times. The reason is mainly due to the distinct molecular structures and physicochemical properties of three ionic PAMs and their different adsorption behaviors with cements particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydration, structural build-up and strength development of cement pates with different accelerators were investigated. • Accelerators increase the structural build-up rate by different mechanisms. • Mechanical efficiency of C-S-H may give wrong ranking on the efficiency of C-S-H. Fast structural build-up and strength development of fresh/hardened cement-based materials are always desired in many scenarios, where accelerators are often used. In this paper, the hydration, structural build-up and strength development of cement pates with different accelerators were investigated. The growth of static yield stress was used to characterize the structural build-up of fresh cement paste with 1% nano silica. Calorimetric curves, zeta potential and conductivity of pastes and strength development of mortars were also measured. Results showed that accelerators promote the reaction of C 3 S or C 3 A at different stages and in different mechanisms. Mechanical efficiency of C-S-H determined by growth of elastic modulus or yield stress over cumulated hydration heat may give wrong ranking on the efficiency of C-S-H. Apart from formation of C-S-H gel, structural build-up may originate from other sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Buildability of 3D printing mortar was evaluated by the deformation of stacking layers. • A deformation monitoring device was designed to monitor the deformation of printing layer. • An equation between the optimal interval time and structural build-up rate was proposed. The buildability of fresh concrete is of great importance to 3D printing technology. In this paper, the buildability of 3D printing mortar was evaluated from the perspective of deformation of fresh mortar during the process of printing. A deformation monitoring device was designed to monitor the change of deformation of printing layer with stacking. The physical and chemical effects on the evolution of structural build-up were evaluated by the growth rate of static yield stress and penetration resistance. Results showed that the chemical effect was more effective than the physical effect, and the combination of physical and chemical effects was the most effective one. The growth of penetration resistance had a linear relationship with the growth of static yield stress, and both of them can be used to characterize the structural build-up of fresh mortar. The deformation value and optimal printing interval time could be obtained by simulating the printing process using the deformation monitoring device. An equation between the optimal interval time and the growth rate of static yield stress was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The effect of temperature on the structural buildup of cement pastes with various mineral admixtures was studied. • The hydration kinetics of cement paste was studied by boundary nucleation and growth model. • The relation between hydration kinetics and structural buildup was analyzed. Abstract The temperature dependence of structural build-up is of great importance to some new concrete technologies, such as 3D printing and slip-form casting concrete. In this paper, the structural build-up of cement paste with various mineral admixtures, characterized by the growth of static yield stress, were measured at 10, 20 and 40 °C. They were related with the calorimetric curves of cement paste at various temperatures. Nucleation kinetic (K N) and growth kinetic (K G) were introduced to analyze the hydration dynamics. The results showed that the addition of fly ash and slag were unfavorable for the structural build-up of cement paste at 10 and 20 °C, however, a favorable phenomenon was observed at 40 °C. The additions of nano-CaCO 3 or nano-SiO 2 had positive effect on structural build-up at all temperatures. The incorporation of silica fume had negative effect on structural build-up at 10 °C, while positive effect at 20 and 40 °C. Both the K N and K G played important roles on the structural build-up rate of cement paste. K G contributed more to the temperature dependence of structural build-up than K N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A-PAM can be adsorbed onto the surface of cement particles until a saturation point is reached. • The retardation and bridging effect generated from A-PAM jointly affect the early properties of cement. • The relationship between the adsorption, retardation of A-PAM and the early properties of cement paste was discussed. Deep understanding of the influence and mechanism of A-PAM on the early properties of the cement-based materials is of both scientific and practical importance. In this paper, the effects of anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM) with different mass ratios on the early properties of cement, including hydration, structural build-up, setting time and early strength development were studied. The interaction between A-PAM and cement particles was also investigated. The relationship between the adsorption, retardation of A-PAM and the early properties of cement paste was then discussed. The results showed that the retardation and bridging effect generated from A-PAM jointly affect the early performances of cement. A-PAM can be adsorbed onto the surface of cement particles until a saturation point is reached. When the A-PAM dosage is below the saturation point, A-PAM mainly acts as flocculant, bridging cement particles and increasing the connection between cement particles. This accelerates the structural build-up and setting of cement paste. When the A-PAM dosage is above the saturation point, the dominant role of A-PAM is retarder, which highly retards the cement hydration and setting, thus slows down the structural build-up and reduces the early strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]