Effect of calcium formate as an accelerator on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of pozzolanic cement pastes

The aim of the present work is to study the effect of calcium formate (CF) as an accelerator on the properties of pozzolanic cement pastes. Three types of cements were used in this investigation. These cements were OPC and pozzolanic cements containing 80 mass% OPC and 20 mass% silica fume (SF) or 20 mass% ground clay bricks (GCB). The dosages of CF were 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mass% of cement. The compressive strength, total porosity, and hydration kinetics such as free lime and combined water contents were investigated. The results obtained in this study showed that the addition of CF shortens the initial and final setting times and increases the compressive strength and combined water content as well as gel/space ratio at all ages of hydration. On the other hand, it decreases the total porosity. CF activates the liberation of Ca(OH)₂ of OPC pastes. The free lime content of pozzolanic cement in the presence of CF increases up to 7 days, then decreases at the later ages of hydration.     

Stabilization of soil by means alternative alkali-activated cement prepared with spent FCC catalyst

Alkali-activated cements are widely studied as alternative and sustainable binder in soil stabilization. In this research work, a mold was designed and constructed, which allowed small cubic specimens to be made (40 × 40 × 40 mm³). With the newly designed mold, cubic samples of soil stabilized with portland cement (OPC) and alternative AAC (based on spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst FCC) were prepared from which compressive strength was obtained. Cylindrical specimens were also prepared using the same binders as in the previous case to obtain their compressive strength. The results obtained in both cases were compared. Greater resistances for cubic samples were achieved. The cubic specimens were selected for being better in terms of standard deviation of compressive strength for AAC stabilized soil. The obtained compressive strength and standard deviation results were compared between the soil specimens stabilized with different stabilizers cured at 7, 14, 28, and 90 days. The method allows small-sized cubic specimens to be prepared. It improves ergonomics. It also facilitates a large number of specimens being obtained with a small amount of sample. Soil stabilized with AAC yielded higher compressive strength after 90 days compared to that with OPC.     

Residual compressive strength of fire‐damaged mortar after post‐fire‐air‐curing

The effects of cooling regimes and post‐fire‐air‐curing on compressive strength of mortar were investigated. Mortars were made with CEN reference sand, CEM I 42.5 R cement and natural spring water. The sand–cement and water–cement materials' ratios were chosen as 3.0 and 0.50 for all mixtures, respectively. At 28 days, the specimens were heated to maximum temperatures of 400, 600, 800 and 1000°C. Specimens were then allowed to cool in the air, furnace and water. After cooling, the specimens were air‐recured. Compressive strength test was carried out before air‐recuring and after 7 days of air‐recuring. The highest reduction in compressive strength was observed at 1000°C regardless of cooling regime. Gradual cooling regime in air and furnace without post curing showed almost no difference in terms of compressive strength reduction for four elevated temperatures. Shock cooling in water caused significant reduction in compressive strength compared with both gradual cooling regimes without post curing. After air and furnace cooling regimes, 7 days air‐recured specimens showed further reduction in compressive strength for four elevated temperatures. Specimens cooled in water and subjected to 7 days air‐recuring showed significant strength gain approximately 39, 100 and 130% for 400, 600 and 800°C elevated temperature, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple relationship between the compressive strength and porosity of hydrated portland cement

Previous work has shown that, for a series of experimental autoclaved aerated concretes with porosities ranging from 0.48 to 0.78, compressive strength is linearly related to the solid/pore volume ratio determined by helium pycnometry. In the work described here, this type of relationship has been applied to experimental data from hydrated Portland cement specimens, prepared using initial water/cement ratios of 0.35 to 0.50 and curing times of 2 to 28 days, with porosities ranging from 0.26 to 0.45. The relationship was found to provide a good fit using data obtained both by varying the water/cement ratio at constant curing times and by varying the curing time at constant water/cement ratios.     

Strength estimation model for high-strength concrete incorporating metakaolin and silica fume

A mathematical model is presented for estimating compressive strength of high-strength concrete incorporating pozzolanic materials, based on the strength of a control ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete made with similar mixture characteristics and curing history. In this study, metakaolin (MK) and silica fume (SF) were used as cement replacement materials at 5%, 10%, and 15% by mass. Water/cementitious materials (w/cm) ratios varied from 0.27 to 0.33, and strength testing was conducted up to an age of 180 days. It was found that the strength of a pozzolanic mixture could be related to the strength of its equivalent control by a linear function. Key parameters involved in the model are the pozzolanic and dilution factors, which can be correlated to the pozzolan content in the mixture. The study concludes that the accuracy of the model increases with concrete age. At ages 28 days and above, 97% of the estimated strengths are within ±5% of the actual value.     

Effect of material characteristics on the properties of blended cements containing high volumes of natural pozzolans

The effect of three different natural pozzolans from Turkish deposits on the properties of blended cements produced by intergrinding cement clinker with a high volume of natural pozzolan (55 wt.% of the cementitious material) was investigated. The particle size distribution of blended cements, setting time, heat of hydration, and compressive strength of blended cement mortars were determined. Experimental results showed that the hardness of the pozzolanic material strongly influenced the particle size distribution and the related properties of the blended cements by affecting the fineness of the components of the blended product. The early strength of the mortars was strongly affected by the particle size distribution of blended cements, whereas the strength development performance of the mortars was more related to the pozzolanic activity of the natural pozzolan present in the blended cement.     

Combined effects of mineral admixtures and curing conditions on the sorptivity coefficient of concrete

The effect of mineral admixture and curing condition on the sorptivity of concrete are investigated. In the present work, the maximum particle size and the grading of coarse aggregate, the cement content and water/cement ratio of the concrete are kept constant. Then, in the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) 42.5 concrete, a portion of the sand is replaced by a mineral admixture such as fly ash (FA), limestone filler, sandstone filler or silica fume (SF). This paper presents the results of both the sorptivity coefficient and the compressive strength of OPC 42.5 concretes with these mineral admixtures, and concretes with OPC 32.5, blended cement (BC) or trass cement (TC). The results obtained indicate that the sorptivity coefficient of concrete decreases as the compressive strength of concrete increases. It is also shown that the sorptivity coefficient of concrete is very sensitive to the curing condition. The effect of curing condition on the sorptivity coefficient of concrete seems to be higher in low-strength concretes.     

Curing requirements of silica fume and fly ash mortars

The curing requirements of silica fume and fly ash mortars were investigated in this study. Silica fume and fly ash mortar specimens were moist cured for periods of 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. After each of the five periods, the moist curing was interrupted by oven-drying the specimens at a temperature of 110°C for 3 days. The specimens were later tested for compressive strength and absorptivity. In this study, it was also determined whether the losses in strength and impermeability of silica fume and fly ash mortars due to an interruption in curing could be regained by recuring. The test results clearly indicate that the curing requirement of silica fume mortar is less than that of plain cement mortar, while in the case of fly ash mortar it is hogher than that of plain cement mortar.     

The permeability of Portland limestone cement concrete

The effect of limestone addition on the air permeability, water permeability, sorptivity, and porosity of limestone cement concrete has been investigated. Six Portland limestone cements (PLCs) with different limestone content (10-35% w/w) were produced by intergrinding clinker, gypsum, and limestone. A water-to-cement ratio (w/c) of 0.70-0.62—depending on the cement strength class—was used to prepare concrete of the compressive strength class C20/25 of EN 206-1. A modified commercial triaxial cell for 100-mm-diameter samples was used for the determination of the gas (N₂) and the water permeability of concretes. In addition, the sorptivity and porosity of the samples were measured, while thin sections of the concrete specimens were examined by means of optical microscopy. It is concluded that the PLC concrete indicates competitive properties with the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. Furthermore, the limestone addition has a positive effect on the water permeability and the sorptivity of concrete.     

Effect of temperature and aging on the mechanical properties of concrete: Part I. Experimental results

This paper reports the results of curing temperature and aging on the strength and elastic modulus and the Part II paper suggests a prediction model based on these experimental results. Tests of 480 cylinders made of Types I, V, and V cement+fly ash concretes, cured in isothermal conditions of 10, 23, 35, and 50 °C and tested at the ages of 1, 3, 7, and 28 days are reported. According to the experimental results, concretes subjected to high temperatures at early ages attain higher early-age compressive and splitting tensile strengths but lower later-age compressive and splitting tensile strengths than concretes subjected to normal temperature. Even though the elastic modulus has the same tendency, the variation of elastic modulus with curing temperature is not so obvious as compressive strength. Based on the experimental result, the relationships among compressive strength, elastic modulus, and splitting tensile strength are analyzed, considering the effects of curing temperature, aging, and cement type.     

The use of tension testing to investigate the effect of W/C ratio and cement type on the resistance of concrete to sulfate attack

Concrete specimens were cast and partially immersed in a sulfate solution for varying periods of time up to 1 year. The effects of water/cement ratio (0.45 and 0.65) and cement type (ordinary and sulfate resistant) were investigated. Concrete performance was evaluated based on compressive strength and tensile strength, which was measured with the pressure tension test. Results indicated that water/cement ratio had a greater influence on the resistance of the concretes to sulfate attack than did cement type. The pressure tension test appeared to be more sensitive than the compressive strength test in detecting internal damage, particularly at early ages.     

29Si Magic-Angle-Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Hydrated Cement Paste and Mortar

This paper presents ²⁹Si magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance measurements that trace the cement hydration process in cement paste and mortar specimens made from ordinary portland cement, type I. These specimens were moist-cured for 3, 7, 14, and 28/31 d at temperatures ranging from 21° to 80°C. Compressive strength for all tested specimens was also determined. The results show that the degree of hydration ( Q ¹+ Q ²) and the compressive strength increase with curing times and temperatures. However, at 80°C, the compressive strength decreases while the degree of hydration increases.     

养护方式对气凝胶砂浆复合自密实混凝土隧道火灾抗力的影响

为了更好地提升气凝胶砂浆(Aerogel Cement Paste,ACP)在模拟隧道火灾(1 100 ℃,2.5 h)中对自密实混凝土(Self-Compacting Concrete,SCC)的保护作用,以现场施工养护方法为基准,研究了湿养时间(7 d至28 d)对ACP复合SCC隧道火灾抗力的影响。结果表明:非复合C40 SCC在隧道火灾试验中发生爆裂,爆裂次数为116次,残余抗压强度为0 MPa,而不同养护方式的ACP复合SCC均未发生爆裂;ACP微观结构越疏松,在高温下产生的微裂纹就越多,这会加速水泥浆体的损伤,降低ACP耐火性能;14 d湿养的ACP的导热系数最低,为0.179 W/(m·K),该养护方式下的ACP复合SCC的残余抗压强度最高,为13.5 MPa,14 d湿养为最优养护方式。     

Comparison of Strength Development in Waste Industrial Gypsum Produced by the Hemihydrate and Dihydrate Processes

Phosphogypsum produced by the hemihydrate process was characterized and compared to that produced by the dihydrate process. Neutralization with NaOH and Ca(OH)₂ was studied. Stabilization with Type I portland cement and fly ash was investigated to see if the phosphogypsum developed enough strength to be used in road construction. Increasing the amount of neutralizer to adjust the pH level above 7, increasing the curing period to 7 d, and/or increasing the cement content increased the strength of phosphogypsum. The effect of grinding on grading and strength development was also studied. After achieving the required strength, extended curing periods above 28 d caused strength reversal. Using 20% fly ash is beneficial and did not show strength reversal. Further studies on prolonged curing times and on using cements with low tricalcium aluminate are needed.     

高火山灰活性煅烧煤矸石添加量对水泥抗压强度的影响

为研究高火山灰活性下煤矸石添加量对水泥抗压强度影响,以龙岩翠屏山煤矿煤矸石为研究对象,分析了温度对煤矸石活性的影响以及煤矸石添加量对水泥强度的影响。结果表明:随着煅烧温度的增大,煤矸石烧失量在逐渐增大,烧失量与煅烧温度呈幂函数关系;随着煅烧温度的增大,煤矸石活性呈现先增大后减小的规律,煅烧煤矸石吸钙量与温度成二次多项式关系,推断实验煤矸石的煅烧最佳温度为750 ℃;随着煤矸石添加量的增加,水泥单轴抗压强度呈下降趋势,试件的抗压强度与煤矸石添加量成指数关系;随着龄期的增大,添加煤矸石的试件强度具有增长的趋势。研究结果对确定煤矸石添加量提供了理论依据,对指导煤矸石在凝胶材料中应用具有重要意义。     

The effect of excessive steam curing on Portland composite cement concrete

Steam curing at atmospheric pressure is an important technique for obtaining high early strength values in precast concrete production. Cement type, as well as curing period and temperature, is an important parameter in the steam-curing process. PC42.5 is the type of cement that is most commonly used in Turkish precast concrete plants. Its behavior is well known. Nowadays, the production of composite cements is becoming more popular every other day due to its advantages. The object of this study was to determine the properties of this relatively new binder comparatively with conventional PC42.5 under steam curing. For this purpose, 15-cm concrete cubes were prepared with a water/cement ratio (W/C) of 0.44 and were subjected to steam curing for five different curing periods of 4, 8, 16, 24 and 36 h under curing temperatures of 65 and 85 °C. Cement dosage was kept constant (400 kg/m³) for all specimens. The variation of compressive strength values and maturity for each condition has been presented comparatively within this study. Test results indicated that Portland composite cement (PKC/A42.5) can be used in place of PC42.5 for steam curing at atmospheric pressure in precast concrete production. However, in case of early high strength demand for early demolding purposes, curing temperature should be increased to 85 °C for PKC/A42.5 cement concretes.     

海水对高贝利特硫铝酸盐水泥水化过程和力学性能的影响

研究了海水拌和与海水养护条件下高贝利特硫铝酸盐水泥(HB-CSA)和普通硅酸盐水泥(OPC)胶砂的抗压强度和抗折强度,采用等温量热法、X射线衍射分析法和热重分析法表征了两种水泥的水化过程和水化产物,分析了海水对HB-CSA水化过程和力学性能的影响。结果表明:海水拌和未明显影响HB-CSA的早期水化过程,海水拌和与海水养护未改变其主要水化产物类型;海水拌和显著加快了OPC的早期水化,海水中的氯盐与OPC的水化产物反应,导致水化氯铝酸钙(Friedel盐)的生成。海水拌和与海水养护对HB-CSA的抗压强度影响较小,但降低了OPC的后期抗压强度。海水养护对HB-CSA和OPC抗折强度的提高较为明显,钙矾石(AFt)含量的增加是抗折强度提高的主要原因。HB-CSA的水化产物中未见Ca(OH)₂和单硫型水化硫铝酸钙(AFm),避免了海水侵入后过量CaSO₄·2H₂O和AFt生成造成的混凝土膨胀开裂和强度下降的危害。     

The pozzolanic activity of a calcined waste FCC catalyst and its effect on the compressive strength of cementitious materials

Equilibrium catalyst (Ecat), one of the spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts from oil companies, shows pozzolanic activity. In this study, the effects on the pozzolanic activity of calcination of Ecat and on the compressive strength of the resulting cementitious materials were examined. The pozzolanic activity of this mineral additive was indicated from DSC measurements. The results show that the pozzolanic activity of Ecat increases with calcined temperature initially, reaches a maximum, and then decreases afterwards. Ecat calcined at about 650 °C becomes the most active. Mortars with 10% calcined catalyst at 3-28 curing days exhibit strength 8-18% greater than that with the untreated. Concrete with a 10% calcined Ecat at 3-28 curing days exhibits strength 7-11% greater than that with the untreated. If the calcined catalyst is further ground, its pozzolanic activity is enhanced, and the compressive strength of the resulting mortars or concrete becomes higher.     

Thermal analysis of borogypsum and its effects on the physical properties of Portland cement

Borogypsum, which consists mainly of gypsum crystals, B₂O₃ and some impurities, is formed during the production of boric acid from colemanite, which is an important borate ore. In this study, the effect of borogypsum and calcined borogypsum on the physical properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has been investigated. The calcination temperature and transformations in the structures of borogypsum and natural gypsum were determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Thermal experiments were carried out between ambient temperature and 500 °C in an air atmosphere at a heating rate of 10 °C min⁻¹. After calculation of enthalpy and determination of conversion temperatures, borogypsum (5% and 7%), hemihydrate borogypsum (5%) and natural gypsum (5%) were added separately to Portland cement clinker and cements were ground in the laboratory. The final products were tested for chemical analysis, compressive strength, setting time, Le Chatelier expansion and fineness properties according to the European Standard (EN 196). The results show that increasing the borogypsum level in Portland cement from 5% to 7% caused an increase in setting time and a decrease in soundness expansion and compressive strength. The cement prepared with borogypsum (5%) was found to have similar strength properties to those obtained with natural gypsum, whereas a mixture containing 5% of hemihydrate borogypsum was found to develop 25% higher compressive strength than the OPC control mixtures at 28 days. For this reason, utilization of calcined borogypsum in cement applications is expected to give better results than untreated borogypsum. It is concluded that hemihydrate borogypsum could be used as a retarder for Portland cement as an industrial side. This would play an important role in reducing environmental pollution.     

Properties of portland cement concrete containing fly ash and condensed silica-fume

Normal pozzolan additives, due to their low surface area and reactivity are not able to improve early strengths and durability of concrete. The problem can be solved by using a mixture of normal and highly reactive pozzolans, such as condensed silica-fume. Results of an investigation are reported here in which 30 percent portland cement in concrete was replaced by an equal volume of fly ash, condensed silica-fume, or a 50:50 mixture of the two. Sand-to-gravel proportions were adjusted to obtain workable concretes having the same water-cement ratio. As compared to the control concrete, the 7 and 28 days compressive strengths of the fly ash concretes were significantly lower, however, in the case of mixed-pozzolan addition, the 7-days strength was similar and the 28-days strength was higher. The differences in the pozzolanic activity of the additivies were confirmed by a parallel investigation involving determination of free lime and pore-size distribution of the cement pastes.