Physical and chemical research of the microstructure of the cement composite filled with allumosilicate and glass microphases

Using the physical and chemical analysis, the possibility to obtain a dense and crack-resistant Portland cement-based composite material filled with aluminosilicate and glass microspheres and a complex additive which purposefully enhances each of the mentioned properties have investigated. During the molding of a composite material, in which particles of a filler and a binder have the same size in microns, micro-reinforcing fibrous additives will not be effective because their particles are larger than filler’s particles. To specify the conditions for the formation of a micro-reinforcing layer of etryngite needles and for increasing the density of the cement matrix structure, relevant theoretical and experimental studies were carried out and a complex additive consisting of calcium nitrate and chloride, carboxymethylcellulose and plasticizer was proposed. Based on the physical and chemical analysis performed, it has been found that adding a complex additive facilitates the compacting of the cement matrix structure through the additional synthesis of crystalline hydrates: ettringite, calcium hydrochloroaluminate, calcium hydroxychloride, and calcium hydrosilicates of the felt-like structure, which improves physical and mechanical properties of a Portland-based composite material.