Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S45874/01
Title:	The nanostructure and degredation of C-S-H in Portland and blended cements
Principal Investigator:	Richardson, Professor IG
Other Investigators:	Brydson, Professor RMD Brough, Dr AR
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Castle Cement Lafarge Laboratoire Central DE United Kingdom Nirex Ltd W R Grace & Co
Department:	Civil Engineering
Organisation:	University of Leeds
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 November 2003	Ends:	31 January 2007	Value (£):	312,488
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Civil Engineering Materials Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The principal binding phase in all Portland cement-based concrete is a calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H); predicting the properties of concrete is therefore dependent on a good knowledge of the nature of C-S-H. The nature of C-S-H is, however, affected by many factors, including the composition of the cement, the water to cement ratio (W/C), the curing temperature, the degree of hydration, and the presence of chemical and mineral admixtures. As a result, C-S-H displays tremendous variation in chemical composition, nanostructure, and morphology. As yet there is no general agreement on the exact nature of the C-S-H formed in neat Portland cements hydrated at normal temperatures and W/C, let alone in the more complex systems containing admixtures. This Proposal aims to provide detailed information on the C-S-H present in a broad range of commercial cementitious systems. The proposed methodology builds upon earlier work which used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and analytical transmission electron microscopy. We believe strongly that the work should finally settle the long-standing and contentious issue of the most appropriate models for the nanostructure of C-S-H in a wide range of systems. The results should make a very significant contribution to attempts to predict the properties and in-service performance of concrete and also facilitate modellina with reaard to the encaosulation of radioactive and hazardous wastes in cementitious svstems.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.leeds.ac.uk