This work presents the results by irradiating fresh Portland cement pastes with CO2 laser, at powers of 1.6, 2.0, and 2.4 W, at different water‐to‐cement (w/c) ratios 0.4, 0.45, and 0.5. Raman spectra show the evolution and accelerated growth of the main hydration products through the intensity changes of the Raman signal. The Raman shifts reveal that the C‐S‐H, CH, AFt, and CaCO3 bands are detected in a shorter time, which means that the setting times are also reduced. The detected band of calcium carbonate, which is due to the incorporation of limestone during the grinding process, shows that it is responsible largely for the acceleration in the reactions during the hydration of the cement. The Raman signals of the hydration products of nonirradiated cement pastes present a delay in their evolution with respect to the irradiated pastes. The curves obtained from the Raman spectra can be used to model the mechanism of hydration as well as to understand the setting process.
In this work we analyze the lime saturation module for different clay settings of raw material after raw grinding process by means of a multiwavelength Raman spectroscopy study, at excitation wavelengths of 450, 532, 633 and 780 nm. The data reveal that independently of the wavelength used, the results of the Raman shifts can be used to calculate the setpoint for controlling the alumina in the raw mix that needs to be adjusted to have the lime saturation within quality parameters, with a minimum variation compared with other techniques such as XRF and XRD, thus ensuring that the Clinker phases are formed under quality standards. The intensity ratios of Raman spectra were used to calculate LS values which were close to those obtained with the XRF technique. Therefore, this measurement approach can be used successfully as an effective and alternative non-destructive method to determine the LS of cement raw mix.
This study evaluates the potential of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and carbon fiber (CF) as sustainable alternatives to steel reinforcement in cement-based materials. The experimental program analyzed the compressive strength of cement pastes and concrete cylinders incorporating 3D-printed ABS and CF elements. Unreinforced cement pastes exhibited higher compressive strength than reinforced pastes, indicating limited reinforcement–matrix interaction. In concrete cylinders, ABS reinforcement increased compressive strength by approximately 3 to 7 MPa compared to steel, whereas CF reinforcement showed variable performance and did not consistently surpass the control specimens. ANOVA and Tukey tests confirmed the statistical significance of the results. The anisotropic response of ABS and CF, inherent to layer-by-layer deposition, was identified as a major factor influencing structural performance, particularly with respect to reinforcement orientation. The results indicate that ABS presents potential as an environmentally favourable alternative to steel in selected applications, while CF requires further optimization for compression-oriented use. Continued research is recommended to evaluate long-term durability, environmental resistance, and reinforcement–matrix compatibility in order to advance the implementation of polymer-based, additively manufactured reinforcements in construction materials.