Thermal conductivity of Portlandite: Molecular dynamics based approach

Energy storage provides a greener path of efficient energy utilization. Recent trends of research suggest concrete as a potential thermal energy storage (TES) material. Its cheap commercial availability makes it one of the most deserving candidates. Cement paste is the key glue of concrete, hence performance of its major components in thermal conduction seeks thorough scientific study. Portlandite or calcium hydroxide is the second major component of cement paste, microscopically visible at a scale length of <10−4 m. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been utilized to investigate the thermal transport mechanism of portlandite at an atomistic scale. The thermal conductivity of this component has been computed using three major force fields which are compared with the experimental outcome using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). It has been observed that the simulation outcomes are in order with the experimental value but the results are sensitive to the choice of force fields. Excitation of molecules during thermal transport is predominantly governed by lower-frequency molecular vibration indicating the existence of Boson Peaks. This manuscript presents the full thermal conductivity tensor of portlandite along with the possible mechanism associated with thermal transport.