ABSTRACT
The two most important constituents of Portland cement are alite, a form of tricalcium silicate, and belite, a form of dicalcium silicate. In their hydration both calcium silicates yield - in addition to calcium hydroxide - a nearly amorphous calcium silicate hydrate phase (C-S-H phase), and this hydration product is mainly responsible for the strength and other physicomechanical properties of the hardened cement paste.
