Formation Mechanism and Resulting Physical Properties of Colloidal Calcium Silicate Hydrates

Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the primary hydration product of cement, governs its microstructural evolution and bulk properties. Its layered, hydrated, and disordered structure makes the C-S-H complex colloidal in nature. This study examined the formation, aggregation, and structural dynamics of nanoparticles from an interfacial science perspective, linking nanoscale hydration, ion coordination, and surface interactions to their macroscopic properties. Recent advances in characterization and simulations have bridged atomic arrangements with performance, highlighting the interlayer water dynamics, hydrated calcium at silicate interfaces, and hierarchical organization. By integration of multimodal insights, this study established a perspective for future C-S-H studies on the rational design of cementitious materials.