Studies of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of unhydrated cement and hydrated cement pastes by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Trimethylsilyl derivatives (T-derivatives) of unhydrated cement and hydrated cement pastes were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectra of all these derivatives are very similar. However, when the spectrum of the T-derivatives of the unhydrated cement is subtracted from those of the hydrated pastes, a difference in the characteristics of the siloxane bands is observed in the subtracted spectra. The implications of these observed changes to cement hydration process is discussed.