Thermoelastic properties of synthetic single crystal portlandite Ca(OH)2 - Temperature-dependent thermal diffusivity with derived thermal conductivity and elastic constants at ambient conditions

Synthetic portlandite single crystals were used to measure thermal diffusivity and elastic constants. The full tensor of elastic constants cijkl is derived by Brillouin spectroscopy at ambient conditions. The resultant aggregate bulk and shear moduli are KS, VRH= 32.2(3) GPa and GVRH= 21.2(2) GPa, respectively. The thermal diffusivity D was measured from −100 ∘C to 700 ∘C parallel [001] and perpendicular [100] to the crystallographic c-axis using laser flash method. The dehydration of the crystals influences the thermal diffusivity determination depending on sample size, orientation and heating rate. Thermal diffusivity and the derived thermal conductivity show a pronounced anisotropy with a maximum perpendicular to the c-axis, i.e. in the plane of the [CaO6] octahedral layers. In the same direction the highest sound velocities (vP and vmean) and longest mean free path length of phonons are determined. The thermal diffusivity as well as the derived thermal conductivity show a distinct temperature dependence. •Synthetic cm-sized portlandite single crystals for thermal diffusion experiments•Practically identical elastic properties for natural and synthetic portlandites•High temperature dependence of thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity•Strong anisotropy of elastic and thermal transport properties•Dehydration affects thermal transport depending on sample size and heating rate.