[mike]

Can somebody out there please explain to me the chemistry involved in concrete. Until today I had always assumed that it just "dried" and hardened. However it has been brought to my attention that there may be some sort of hydration reaction occuring, possibly exothermic I suppose. I would really like to know the chemistry involved in this process.

[pantone159]

I can't really add anything myself, but you might try and take a look at:
J Chemical Education, Vol 80 No 6, Jun 2003, p 623-635, Cement: Its Chemistry and Properties.

[mike]

Wow, great this is just what I needed, thanks. Anyone else interested in this topic should check out this article (I am just in the middle of reading it).

[Pelle]

It seem the water is consumed to build complex structures of mainly calcium silicate hydrate, and not just drying. Apparently, one has improved the strength of concrete by adding substances with a carbon backbone and sulfate groups attached.

That's about what I could get out of my old textbook on general chemistry. I'm sure that article is more enlightening.

[Mr. Moliarity]

I can't really add anything myself, but you might try and take a look at:
J Chemical Education, Vol 80 No 6, Jun 2003, p 623-635, Cement: Its Chemistry and Properties.

Perfect!  Is there an online link to this?

Mr. Moliarity

[Mitch]

http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/Issues/2003/Jun/abs623.html

[green-goblin]

  >:(my Athens password won't get me in. My cheap ass University probably hasn’t paid for access. I'll have to check the library and that means I’ll have to hold a real book instead of the computer mouse. What is the world coming to; next I’ll have to write down lectures instead of printing off PowerPoint documents, and learn to spell rather than using spell-check.

[constant thinker]

Have you thought of maybe checking google news. Who knows, maybe you'll find that article for free somehow.

http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn&q=