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Structure and Formation of Magnesium Oxychloride Sorel Cements

Nature volume 211, pages 64–66 (1966)Cite this article

Abstract

THE hardening process by which a cement is formed from a polycrystalline matrix has been investigated using a cement of relatively simple composition and structure—Sorel cement1. This cement is formed by the addition of magnesium chloride solution to a fine powder of magnesium oxide2. The viscous paste hardens on drying and sets to a cement consisting of a mass of needle-like crystals of Mg3(OH)2Cl.4H2O. The appearance of the cement is shown in Fig. 1, which was taken with a scanning electron microscope (by A. Rezanowich and I. Frazer at the Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Montreal).

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References

  1. Sorel, S. T., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 65, 102 (1867).

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  2. Fink, G. J., Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3, 435 (1953). Taylor, H. F. W., The Chemistry of Cements (Academic Press, New York, 1964).

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  3. See Bacon, R., in Growth and Perfection of Crystals, edit. by Doremus, R. H., 197 (Wiley, New York, 1958). Nabarro, F. R. N., and Jackson, P. J., ibid., 77.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IIT Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois

    B. TOOPER & L. CARTZ

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  1. B. TOOPER
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  2. L. CARTZ
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TOOPER, B., CARTZ, L. Structure and Formation of Magnesium Oxychloride Sorel Cements. Nature 211, 64–66 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211064a0

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