The presence of these ‘‘nuclei’’ significantly accelerated the hydration
reaction rate.
Therefore, the hydrates accumulated rapidly and
grew outwards into the water filled voids, resulting in the decrease
in porosity.
Moreover, it should be noticed that the reduction of
porosity mainly occurred within the capillary pore range.
Capillary pores are considered remnants of the water-filled space between
the hydrated cement grains [23].