TY - JOUR A1 - Ramirez, Alejandra A1 - Pauli, Jutta A1 - Crasselt, C. A1 - Simon, S. A1 - Schmidt, W. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - The effect of a polycarboxylate ether on C3A / CaSO4.2H2O passivation monitored by optical spectroscopy JF - Construction and Building Materials N2 - Polycarboxylate ethers (PCEs) are widely used in construction, but the exact nature of their interaction with cement is still debated. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) in cement hydration, we assessed the potential of optical spectroscopy in combination with a water-soluble fluorescent organic reporter dye (S0586) to monitor the early hydration of C3A in the presence of 26 wt% CaSO4.2H2O (C3A26G-S) with and without PCE. As optical methods, steady-state fluorescence and diffuse reflectance (UV–VisDR) spectroscopy were employed. Phase characterization and particle size distribution were performed with in-situ X-ray diffraction (in-situ XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Our results show that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy can be used to monitor the formation of metastable phases by the disaggregation of the dye S0586 in a cement paste as well as changes in ettringite formation. Addition of PCE slowed down the disaggregation of the dye as reflected by the corresponding changes of the dyes absorption and fluorescence. This prolonged induction period is a well-known side effect of PCEs and agrees with previous reported calorimetric studies and the Inhibition of gypsum dissolution observed by in-situ XRD. This demonstrates that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy together with a suitable optical probe can provide deeper insights into the influence of PCE on C3A-gypsum hydration which could be e.g., utilized as screening method for comparing the influences of different types of PCEs. KW - Fluorescence KW - Cement KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - PCE KW - XRD KW - Calorimetry KW - Monitoring KW - Diffuse KW - Reflection KW - Phase KW - Dye KW - Optical probe KW - Cyanine KW - Sensor KW - Method KW - Analysis PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121856 VL - 270 SP - 121856 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-52118 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -