Effect of particle size distribution on the hydration and compressive strength development of α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate paste

► RRB function illustrates the effect of PSD on α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate paste. ► Fineness is more crucial than distribution width to paste strength development. ► Plaster with optimum PSD hydrates without a hydration barrier for standard consistency. ► An optimum PSD is characterized by De ≈ 35 μm and n ≈ 0.82 for standard consistency.