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How much water goes into combination with the cement during the hardening of concrete?

Q. How much water goes into combination with the cement during the hardening of concrete?

 

A. For complete hydration of portland cement, the w/cm is about 0.4 by mass. Only 0.2 unit of water by mass combines chemically with cement during hydration. Hydration product has about 30% pore space, and water needs to be available to fill it, which requires the other 0.2 unit of water.

 

References: SP-1(02)

Topics in Concrete: Concrete Fundamentals

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