Effect of phosphate additives on the hydration process of magnesium silicate cements: Thermal and spectroscopic characterization

The role of phosphate additives on the hydration process of magnesium silicate cement pastes was investigated through a multi-technique approach. A MgO/SiO2 mixture was hydrated for 28 days either in the absence or in the presence of sodium hexametaphosphate, trimetaphosphate or orthophosphate. Information on the kinetics of the hydration reaction was acquired by monitoring the free water index by means of differential scanning calorimetry, while the hydration products were thoroughly investigated by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and 29Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The overall results provide new insight into the effect of phosphates on the hydration reaction and on the structure of magnesium silicate hydrate cements. All additives showed a plasticizing effect and promoted the formation of the binding phase magnesium silicate hydrate (M–S–H), without significantly altering its structure. Sodium orthophosphate was found to be by far the best-performing additive, even better than sodium hexametaphosphate, which is commonly used in these cementitious formulations. For the first time, 31P solid-state NMR investigation allowed orthophosphate ion to be identified as the effective species.