An advanced single-particle model for C3S hydration - validating the statistical independence of model parameters

An advanced continuum-based multi-physical single particle model was recently introduce for the hydration of tricalcium silicate ($C_3S$). In this model, the dissolution and the precipitation events are modeled as two different yet simultaneous chemical reactions. Product precipitation involves a nucleation and growth mechanism wherein nucleation is assumed to happen only at the surface of the unreacted core and product growth is characterized via a two-step densification mechanism having rapid growth of a low density initial product followed by slow densification. Although this modeling strategy has been shown to nicely mimic all stages of $C_3S$ hydration - dissolution, dormancy (induction), the onset of rapid hydration, the transition to slow hydration and prolonged reaction - the major criticism is that many adjustable parameters are required. If formulated correctly, however, the model parameters are shown here to be statistically independent and significant.