In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a powerful tool to assess the hydration of cementitious materials, providing
time-resolved quantitative analysis with reasonable accuracy without disturbing sample. However, the lack of
guidelines and well-established procedures for data collection and analysis is the limiting factor for spreading
this technique. This paper discussed using in-situ laboratory XRD to assess cement hydration. The first part was
dedicated to a literature review on the topic. Then, experimental strategies were discussed, and recommendations
related to the data analysis routine were drawn; the advantages and limitations of this technique were also
discussed. We can conclude that the critical factors for a successful analysis are the choice of an adequate
experimental setup with good statistics and low measurement time, the proper consideration of different
amorphous contributions in the XRD pattern, and a good data analysis routine. Independent techniques are
highly recommended to support the in-situ XRD data.
