Ph.D student LONG Jiangfeng from Tongji University, Principal Investigator of NEXCEL 2024 PHD project titled "Study on the performance regulation mechanism of cement-based materials based on in-situ polymerization", have published a paper entitled "Influence of initiator dosage and curing temperature on in-situ polymerization kinetics and synergistic performance of cement composites" in "Cement and Concrete Composites" (SCI) recently.
Abstract：
In-situ polymerization-modified cement composites (iPMCC) have received considerable attention for their excellent toughness. The contribution to the performance improvement still relies on empirical trial-and-error methods, as the core polymerization kinetics and their intrinsic influence mechanisms remain unclear. This work proposed a method for real-time monitoring of the monomer polymerization rate in cement paste. The effects of initiator (ammonium persulfate, APS) and initial curing temperature on the in-situ polymerization kinetics, hydration, microstructure, and macroscopic properties (mechanical and shrinkage) were investigated systematically. The results show that increasing both the APS dosage and the curing temperature significantly accelerates the polymerization rate and enhances monomer conversion. The identified optimal APS dosage (1.0%) and curing temperature (30–40 °C) maximize mechanical properties by fostering a synergistic kinetic match between polymerization and hydration, which promotes the formation of a dense and uniform interpenetrating network. This study lays a key theoretical foundation for designing and optimizing high-performance iPMCC through the precise control of polymerization kinetics.
Paper Details:
Cement and Concrete Composites 171 (2026) 106625
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106625