Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose as a modifier of gypsum properties

The study is focused on the influence of a water-soluble polymer (in weight fraction up to 1.5%), cellulose derivatives—hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, on gypsum properties. Gypsum setting involves two processes: gypsum hydration/crystallization and probably formation of a polymer film in material pores. The processes are studied by various methods such as setting time and mechanical measurements, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The additive acts as a retarder (an increase in setting time), and it modifies the morphology of calcium sulfate dihydrate crystals, leading to the change in mechanical properties—an increase in bending stress. The mechanism of gypsum crystal growth during hemihydrate hydration is predicted to be a nucleation control process (the Avrami equation is applied). The value of nucleation rate constant decreases with an increasing additive content.