A short-hand cement chemistry notation: CS · Cs · Cc · H15 for thaumasite

CS · Cs · Cc · H₁₅ is a widely used short-hand notation for the mineral thaumasite [1]. In this notation, symbols CS, Cs, Cc and H₁₅ represent the four components calcium silicate, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate and hydrate (water), respectively, as they occur in the formula of thaumasite's chemical composition:  CaSiO₃ · CaSO₃ · CaCO₃ · 15H₂O. Another common formula presentation is [Ca₃Si(OH)₆·12H₂O)](SO₄)(CO₃). Information snippets regarding thaumasite and various references can be found at Materials Matter! : Ca3Si(OH)6(CO3)(SO4)(H2O)12.

This special notation is for use within its domain of interest: chemistry and technology of building materials and composites. Notice that the symbols C, H, S and Cs conflict with their use to represent the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and cesium (caesium): non-supervised parsing software may run into problems encountering this string.

Thaumasite is a naturally occurring mineral, but most of the research and public interest derives from its role (along with ettringite) as a deterioration product of concrete and mortar in a sulfate- and carbonate-rich environment.

Keywords: materials science, mineralogy, engineering, safety of buildings, damage, nomenclature, material formula

Reference
[1] Milan Drábik: Thaumasite: Its Relevance to Sulphate Corrosion in Concrete. Nachrichten aus der Chemie May 2011, 59, VIII-X.
DOI: 10.1002/nadc.201180415.