Initial hydration of cementitious systems using a simple isothermal calorimeter and dynamic correction

A simple isothermal calorimeter ideal to study hydration of cementitious systems is described together with an ampoule design to allow addition of water and mixing with the ampoule inside the calorimeter. An overview of dynamic corrections is given, and the utilisation of the different dynamic corrections on the calorimeter output is discussed. Correction of data on b-hemihydrate hydration to form gypsum has shown good kinetic agreement with data from synchrotron X-ray diffraction. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.