• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2020

The formation characteristics of calcium carbonates are closely related to the durability and mechanical properties of cement-based materials. In this regard, a deep understanding of the reaction pathway of calcium carbonates is critical. Recently, non-classical nucleation theory was summarized and it was presumed that prenucleation clusters are present. The formation of the prenucleation cluster at undersaturated condition (≈ 0.1 ml) in the present study was investigated via electrical characteristics of an electrolytic solution. Calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2·2H2O) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) were used as starting materials to supply calcium and carbonate sources, respectively. Furthermore, the reaction pathway of calcium carbonates was investigated by time-resolved polarization and depolarization characteristics of the electrolytic solution. The time-resolved polarization and depolarization tests were conducted by switching polarity with an interval of 20 seconds for 1 hr and by measuring the variation of electrical resistance. It can be inferred from the results obtained in the present study that the reactive constituent for the formation of calcium carbonates was mostly consumed in the period possibly associated with the prenucleation and the reaction pathways may be governed by the monomer-addition mechanism.