Hydration study of the polymer modified jute fibre reinforced cement paste using analytical techniques

The paper deals with the hydration behaviour of the polymer modified jute fibre reinforced cement paste. In this investigation, different polymer contents in the emulsion (i.e., 0.0257%, 0.0513%, 0.1025% and 0.2050%) were used to prepare the polymer modified jute fibre reinforced cement paste. The hydration characteristic of the cement samples was assessed by monitoring the extent of hydrated cement product. Based on the X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis of the hydrated cement samples, it is revealed that the polymer modified (0.0513%) jute fibre reinforced cement sample produces a greater extent of hydrated cement product as compared to that of the unmodified fibre reinforced cement sample. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the unmodified jute fibre delays the cement hydration reaction, whilst, the use of an optimum polymer content in the emulsion (0.0513%) recovers the hydration delaying action of jute fibre. Finally, a model has been proposed to explain the overall performances of the polymer modified jute fibre reinforced cement paste. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.