Monitoring hydration kinetics and microstructural development of slag-modified calcium aluminate cement-based materials using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
摘要
This study presents a multi-technique investigation into the microstructural evolution of slag-modified Calcium Aluminate Cement (CAC)-based materials. A central focus is placed on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to non-destructively monitor the underlying mechanisms governing strength development, with XRD-Rietveld and MIP providing phase evolution and porosity data for validation. The results of the Nyquist plots qualitatively revealed a transition from simple to complex charge transfer mechanisms, justifying the use of a deconstructed equivalent circuit model. This quantitative analysis allowed for the extraction of bulk resistance (Rb), which reflects pore solution changes, and the novel separation of charge transfer resistance into two components: continuous capillary pore resistance (RCCP) and discontinuous path resistance (RCP). The integrated results show that the superior later-age strength of slag, which is physically linked to C-(A)-S-H gel formation and pore refinement, is dynamically and quantitatively captured by the sharp increase in RCP. While RCP showed a composition-dependent correlation with strength, the analysis confirms that RCP serves as a universal indicator of microstructural integrity. This work establishes a robust framework, demonstrating how detailed EIS analysis, from qualitative Nyquist plots to deconstructed parameters, can provide powerful insights into the performance of complex cementitious materials.