CALCIUM HYDROXIDE ISSUE: AN INDUSTRIAL VIEW

摘要

The presence of large quantities of calcium hydroxide in hardened concrete is a well-known and accepted fact. Such amounts are considered to be of importance for performance, particularly for faster hardening and protection of steel reinforcement. For more than a century now, the construction industry uses portland cement― mineral additive systems, and all attempts to modify or replace these systems by novel binders failed, primarily due to poor economic or technical performance, or both. During the long history of the existing binder systems we have learned quite successfully how to use and optimize them, as well as how to solve the occasional problems. The industry does not seem to be interested in changing the present situation in spite of some obvious advantages that could be realized if lesser amount of calcium hydroxide could be generated during the process of hydration. Recognizing the conservatism of the industry and the slow pace of technical advances and technology transfer in this field, the author is still of the opinion that novel developments are possible and should be seriously considered by both academic and industrial communities. Such developments could result in more economic and more durable products.