H F W Taylor was for many years Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at he University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Since 1948, his main research interest has been the chemistry of cement. His early work laid the foundations of our understanding of the structure at the nanometre level of C-S-H, the principal product formed when cement is mixed with water, and the one mainly reponsible for its hardening. Subsequent studies took him into many additional aspects of the chemistry and materials science of cement and concrete. His work has been recognized by Fellowships and by other honours and awards from many scientific societies in the UK, USA and elsewhere. This second edition of Cement chemistry addresses the chemistry and materials science of the principal silicate and aluminate cements used in building and Civil engineering. Emphasis throughout is on the underlying science.
The book deals more specifically with the chemistry of Portland cement manufacture and the nature of the resulting product, the processes that occur when this product is mixed with water, the nature of the hardened material, the chemistry of other types of hydraulic cement, and chemical and microstructural aspects of concrete, including processes that affect its durability. Since the first edition of this book was published in 1990, research throughout the world has greatly augmented our knowledge in all of hese areas. The present edition has been updated and revised to take account of these advances. The reader will acquire a solid understanding of the subject and will be better equipped to deal with the problems and pitfalls that can arise in engineering practice as a result of inadequate understanding of the relevant chemistry. It will serve both as an introduction to those entering the subject for the first time and as a guide to the latest developments for those already experienced in the field.