A Review on Application of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Characterizing the Effect of Additives on Portland Cement

Additive-containing cements usually exhibit different hydrating behaviors. These behaviors which are sometimes unexpectable can result in some difficulties in engineering properties of the cement based materials. It is therefore necessary to use an accurate and fast laboratory technique to characterize the hydrating behaviors of the cement-based materials. In some cementing mixes, it is also necessary to determine the presence of relatively less or high amounts of additives. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy can simply provide all these capabilities. Using this laboratory technique, one can investigate the effects of clinker and additive materials on the hydrating behavior of the cement.