The Impact of Various Additives on the Microstructure of Silicate Products

Abstract

The article analyses the microstructure of silicate products, both the traditional ones and those modified with barium sulphate, lithium silicate and basalt aggregate. The specified phases have been characterised and it has been attempted to link the inner composition with functional properties, particularly of the lime-sand products. Silicate products were tested on account of their composition, which is based on natural ingredients, i.e. lime, sand and water because of their very good functional properties. The lime-sand mixture was supplemented with successive admixtures during preparation. The inner composition has a significant impact on functional properties of building materials. The interpretation of the presented products structure revealed the existence of diversified phases i.e. the CS- H gel, the C-S-H and tobermorite as well as xonotlite. The above mentioned phases are calcium silicates with a various degree of structural arrangement, different chain lengths and specified inter-plane gaps. Whereas numerous scientific reference sources are devoted to hydrated calcium silicates in concretes, the silicate microstructure is covered by a definitely smaller number of authors.