Molecular dynamics study of confined water in the periclase-brucite system under conditions of reaction-induced fracturing

•Above 30 MPa, reaction-induced fracturing in the periclase-brucite system slow down.•Our simulations propose a mechanism for the observed slow-down.•A few tens of MPa are sufficient to squeeze out all but one water layer.•The self-diffusion coefficient of water decreases with thinner water films.