Figure 1.

Scheme of the process of transformations in the structure of cement paste and hardened cement paste during cement hydration: (a) cement grains in water—the initial period of hydration; (b) formation of a gel shell on cement grains—a latent period of hydration; (c) secondary growth of the gel shell after the osmotic destruction of the original shell, the formation of wavy and columnar structures on the surface of the grains and in the pores of the hardened cement paste—the third period of hydration; (d) compaction of the structure of the hardened cement paste during subsequent hydration of the cement.