HEAT OF HYDRATION

The reaction of cement with water is exothermic. The reaction liberates a considerable quantity of heat. This heat is called heat of hydration. The study and control of the heat of hydration become important for the construction of concrete dams and other mass concrete construction. Different compounds hydrate at different rates and liberate different quantities of heat. On mixing cement with water a rapid heat evolution lasting a few minutes occurs. This heat of evolution is probably due to the reaction of the solution of aluminates and sulfates.