Modeling the Kinetics of Cement Composite Processes Modified with Calcium-Containing Additives

Introduction. Rock wastes from dust collection systems can be used as mineral additives for making artificial conglomerates based on mineral binders. At the same time, the size of waste particles allows them to be used without additional grinding. Such materials may include fine powders of calcium-containing rocks such as limestone, wollastonite, diopside. Waste rock from dust collection systems can be used as mineral additives for manufacturing artificial conglomerates based on mineral binders. The particle size of the waste allows their utilization without additional grinding. Such materials can include finely dispersed powders of calciumcontaining rocks, such as limestone, wollastonite, and diopside. Methods and materials. We used Portland cement CEM II/A-W 32.5F was used as a binder in the study. The selection of additives was determined through a comparative analysis of their thermodynamic properties with those analogous to clinker minerals. Standard research methods were used to study cement composites, as well as mercury porometry, X-ray phase analysis and electron microscopy. Results. The addition of calcium- containing additives makes it possible to strengthen the structure of cement materials. The greatest increase in strength during the initial hardening period can be achieved by adding 2% of limestone. In the late period of strength gain (in 14 days), the greatest hardening of the stone was obtained with the addition of 9% wollastonite or 7% diopside. Discussion. The results of cement stone diffractogram of the control composition and with the use of additives are given. With the addition of additives, there is a decrease in the intensity of calcium hydroxide reflexes and an increase in the intensity of calcium hydrosilicates reflexes. The study of the macrostructure revealed a significant difference in the structure of the stone. The porosity analysis showed that when calcium-containing additives are added into the system, the total pore volume decreases, the number of small pores increases (size 0.003-1.2 mu m). Conclusion. The increase in strength up to 48% is due to the close chemical composition and thermodynamic characteristics of the binder and calcium-containing additives. Wollastonite, due to its fibrous structure, creates micro-reinforcement of the system, and diopside, in its turn, having the highest hardness and elastic modulus of the presented additives, leads to the greatest hardening of the stone. KEYWORDS: cement composites, calcium-containing additives, strength characteristics, porosity.