scholarly journals Setting Characteristics, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Cement Pastes Containing Accelerators Mixed with Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs): An NMR Study Combined with Additional Methods

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanliang Ji ◽  
Zhenping Sun ◽  
Chao Chen ◽  
Leo Pel ◽  
Ahmed Barakat

In this study, the setting property and mechanical strength of cement pastes containing accelerators (CPCA) with or without superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were first studied. The early microstructure evolution and water distribution at 7 and 28 days were probed by 1D (T2) and 2D (T1-T2 maps) H1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry, and the microstructure was systematically investigated by using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), back-scattered electron (BSE) image and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Results showed that the SAPs in the cement paste containing accelerators had various influences on setting time and compressive strength depending on the type of accelerators. The presence of SAPs in the cement paste containing alkaline free accelerators could alleviate the decrease of internal relative humidity, promote hydration and help to modify the pore structure. Moreover, it was observed that the SAP cavities could be nicely filled with calcium hydroxide (CH) in the cement paste with alkaline free accelerators.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1611
Author(s):  
Gintautas Skripkiūnas ◽  
Asta Kičaitė ◽  
Harald Justnes ◽  
Ina Pundienė

The effect of calcium nitrate (CN) dosages from 0 to 3% (of cement mass) on the properties of fresh cement paste rheology and hardening processes and on the strength of hardened concrete with two types of limestone-blended composite cements (CEM II A-LL 42.5 R and 42.5 N) at different initial (two-day) curing temperatures (−10 °C to +20 °C) is presented. The rheology results showed that a CN dosage up to 1.5% works as a plasticizing admixture, while higher amounts demonstrate the effect of increasing viscosity. At higher CN content, the viscosity growth in normal early strength (N type) cement pastes is much slower than in high early strength (R type) cement pastes. For both cement-type pastes, shortening the initial and final setting times is more effective when using 3% at +5 °C and 0 °C. At these temperatures, the use of 3% CN reduces the initial setting time for high early strength paste by 7.4 and 5.4 times and for normal early strength cement paste by 3.5 and 3.4 times when compared to a CN-free cement paste. The most efficient use of CN is achieved at −5 °C for compressive strength enlargement; a 1% CN dosage ensures the compressive strength of samples at a −5 °C initial curing temperature, with high early strength cement exceeding 3.5 MPa but being less than the required 3.5 MPa in samples with normal early strength cement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 370-380
Author(s):  
David Sinkhonde ◽  
Richard Ocharo Onchiri ◽  
Walter Odhiambo Oyawa ◽  
John Nyiro Mwero

Background: Investigations on the use of waste clay brick powder in concrete have been extensively conducted, but the analysis of waste clay brick powder effects on cement paste is limited. Materials and Methods: This paper discusses the effects of waste clay brick powder on cement paste. Fragmented clay bricks were grounded in the laboratory using a ball mill and incorporated into cementitious mixes as partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement. Workability, consistency, setting time, density and compressive strength properties of paste mixes were investigated to better understand the impact of waste clay brick powder on the cementitious paste. Four cement replacement levels of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% were evaluated in comparison with the control paste. The chemical and mineral compositions were evaluated using X-Ray Fluorescence and X-Ray Diffractometer, respectively. The morphology of cement and waste clay brick powder was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Results: The investigation of workability exhibited a reduction of slump attributed to the significant addition of waste clay brick powder into the cementitious mixes, and it was concluded that waste clay brick powder did not significantly influence the density of the mixes. In comparison with the control paste, increased values of consistency and setting time of cement paste containing waste clay brick powder confirmed the information available in the literature. Conclusion: Although waste clay brick powder decreased the compressive strength of cement paste, 5% partial cement replacement with waste clay brick powder was established as an optimum percentage for specimens containing waste clay brick powder following curing periods of 7 and 28 days. Findings of chemical composition, mineral composition and scanning electron microscopy of waste clay brick powder demonstrated that when finely ground, fragmented clay bricks can be used in concrete as a pozzolanic material.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingbin Yang ◽  
Zhenping Sun ◽  
Yihe Zhao ◽  
Yanliang Ji ◽  
Biyun Li

RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (40) ◽  
pp. 20709-20715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radoslaw M. Kowalczyk ◽  
Agata M. Gajewicz ◽  
Peter J. McDonald

Distribution (by 1H NMR intensity) of water and isopropanol in as prepared (left bars) and exchanged (right bars) cement paste.


2015 ◽  
Vol 749 ◽  
pp. 362-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Pokorný ◽  
Milena Pavlíková ◽  
Eva Navrátilová ◽  
Pavla Rovnaníková ◽  
Zbyšek Pavlík ◽  
...  

The effect of a-SiO2 of various origin on the properties of cement paste with incorporated different silica containing materials is experimentally studied in the paper. For the applied a-SiO2 materials, basic physical and chemical properties are accessed, together with their chemical composition. Amount of amorphous phase of SiO2 in particular siliceous materials is determined using XRD analysis. Matrix density, bulk density, total open porosity, compressive and bending strength are measured for all developed pastes with incorporated a-SiO2 containing materials, together with initial and final setting time of fresh mixtures. The obtained data give evidence on a high and fast reaction activity of tested siliceous materials which results in a significant improvement of porosity and mechanical strength of a-SiO2 modified cement pastes.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd Elrahman ◽  
Mohamed E. El Madawy ◽  
Sang-Yeop Chung ◽  
Stanisław Majer ◽  
Osama Youssf ◽  
...  

Improving the thermal insulation properties of cement-based materials is the key to reducing energy loss and consumption in buildings. Lightweight cement-based composites can be used efficiently for this purpose, as a structural material with load bearing ability or as a non-structural one for thermal insulation. In this research, lightweight cement pastes containing fly ash and cement were prepared and tested. In these mixes, three different techniques for producing air voids inside the cement paste were used through the incorporation of aluminum powder (AL), air entraining agent (AA), and hollow microspheres (AS). Several experiments were carried out in order to examine the structural and physical characteristics of the cement composites, including dry density, compressive strength, porosity and absorption. A Hot Disk device was used to evaluate the thermal conductivity of different cement composites. In addition, X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was adopted to investigate the microstructure of the air-entrained cement pastes and the spatial distribution of the voids inside pastes without destroying the specimens. The experimental results obtained showed that AS specimens with admixture of hollow microspheres can improve the compressive strength of cement composites compared to other air entraining admixtures at the same density level. It was also confirmed that the incorporation of aluminum powder creates large voids, which have a negative effect on specimens’ strength and absorption.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Yuli Wang ◽  
Huijuan Lu ◽  
Junjie Wang ◽  
Hang He

In order to improve the early age strength of ordinary Portland cement-based materials, many early strength agents were applied in different conditions. Different from previous research, the nano calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) particles used in this study were synthesized through the chemical reaction of CaO, SiO2, and H2O under 120 °C using the hydrothermal method, and the prepared nano C-S-H particles were highly crystalized. The influences of different amounts of nano C-S-H particles (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% by weight of cement) on the setting time, compressive strength, and hydration heat of cement paste were studied. The hydration products and microstructure of the cement paste with different additions of nano C-S-H particles were investigated through thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests. The results show that the nano C-S-H particles could be used as an early strength agent, and the early strength of cement paste can be increased by up to 43% through accelerating the hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S). However, the addition of more than 2% nano C-S-H particles was unfavorable to the later strength development due to more space being left during the initial accelerated hydration process. It is suggested that the suitable content of the nano C-S-H particles is 0.5%−1% by weight of cement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Qiaoling Liu ◽  
Yujiao Peng ◽  
Long Liang ◽  
Xiaobin Dong ◽  
Hancai Li

The effect of the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the properties of cement pastes is studied herein. The compressive strength of CNC/cement paste was investigated under the curing conditions defined in this study. Two-dimensional micrographs and pore size distributions were obtained by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and nitrogen adsorption. The addition of CNCs was found to significantly enhance the mechanical properties of cement pastes with a rapid decrease in temperature and humidity. XCT and nitrogen adsorption analyses show that the addition of CNCs leads to a refinement of the pore structure in the cement matrix. Almost no hydration products, including C-S-H, are formed in the cement matrix without CNCs under extreme conditions. This is in contrast with the results for the cement paste with 0.5% CNCs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (340) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
J. I. Tobón ◽  
O. Mendoza ◽  
O. J. Restrepo ◽  
M. V. Borrachero ◽  
J. Payá

This work studies the effect of nanosilica (NS) on the rheology of cement paste by comparing it with two high specific surface area silicas: silica fume (SF) and pyrogenic silica (PS). Portland cement pastes were produced with different water-to-cementing material ratios and different solid substitutions of cement by silica. Water demand, setting time, and rheology tests were performed. Results showed that NS and SF decreased plastic viscosity, while PS increased it. Only PS was found to have an effect on yield stress. NS showed the most decreasing effect on viscosity, regardless of its higher water demand. It was concluded that the behavior of pastes containing NS and SF is governed by the “ball-bearing” effect from silica particles, by their agglomeration degree, and their impact on the solid volume fraction. The behavior of pastes containing PS is governed by its ability to absorb a portion of the mixing water.


2014 ◽  
Vol 584-586 ◽  
pp. 1182-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Chen Zhang ◽  
Yun Zhao ◽  
Fu Wan Zhu

Limestone filler and aggregates are used widely in cement production and concrete mixing nowadays, which could be connected with thaumasite formation, and lead to a lack of durability further. This work deals with the sulfate minerals including of thaumasite, ettringite and gypsum in two types of cement pastes containing 35% w/w limestone powder immersed in MgSO4 solution at 5°C±2°C for 15 weeks by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD). Two types of cements were used: (i) ordinary Portland cement (P·O), (ii) typeII Portland cement (P·II). Test results show that thaumasite is present in two types of cement pastes, amount of thaumasite as well as amount of portlandite reacted with external SO42- in P·II cement paste are more than those in P·O cement paste. It indicates that P·II cement is more susceptible to thaumasite formation than P·O cement containing the same amount of limestone powder, and more gypsum formation could contribute to thaumasite formation possibly during the external MgSO4 attack at low temperature.


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