DIRECT OBSERVATION OF THE GROWTH OF CALCIUM SILICATE HYDRATE ON ALITEAND SILICA SURFACES BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

Direct observation of the growth of calcium silicate hydrates, the tri calcium silicate hydration products, at the solid-solution interface w ere performed by atomic force microscopy. The covering of the surface of alite or silica by a three-dimensional oriented aggregation of nano particles of calcium silicate hydrate is always observed whatever the sample. All observations and quantifications made on calcium silicate growth at the submicronic level are in agreement with the data deduce d from the study of the system evolution at the macroscopic level. ((C ) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.).