Compressive strength-color change relation in mortars at high temperature

Changes in materials' physical, chemical and mechanical properties have to be known to decide whether the buildings exposed to high-temperature effect will be repaired or demolished. In order to carry out the effects of fire and extinguishing on the properties of concrete, mortars with and without silica fume were exposed to different temperatures, such as 100, 200, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 °C, and cooled slowly in the air and fast in water in two groups. Flexural and compressive-strength tests were performed on the samples which were cooled up to room temperature and changes in color were determined by using the Munsell Color System. High temperature has caused damages in mechanical properties of mortars with or without silica fume, especially samples which were cooled in water, which showed significant decrease in mechanical strengths at 600 °C. In this study, it was observed that the changes in color's hue component and the compressive strength have similarities. Test results show that residual color changes in mortar can give an idea about the effect of high temperatures on the mechanical properties of mortar during a fire.     

Effect of pumice and fly ash incorporation on high temperature resistance of cement based mortars

The effects of high temperature on the mechanical properties of cement based mortars containing pumice and fly ash were investigated in this research. Four different mortar mixtures with varying amounts of fly ash were exposed to high temperatures of 300, 600, and 900 °C for 3 h. The residual strength of these specimens was determined after cooling by water soaking or by air cooling. Also, microstructure formations were investigated by X-ray and SEM analyses.Test results showed that the pumice mortar incorporating 60% fly ash revealed the best performance particularly at 900 °C. This mixture did not show any loss in compressive strength at all test temperatures when cooled in air. The superior performance of 60% FA mortar may be attributed to the strong aggregate-cement paste interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and ceramic bond formation at 900 °C. However, all mortar specimens showed severe losses in terms of flexural strength. Furthermore, specimens cooled in water showed greater strength loss than the air cooled specimens. Nevertheless, the developed pumice, fly ash and cement based mortars seemed to be a promising material in preventing high temperature hazards.     

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 development of high-strength mortars with improved thermal and acid resistance

Granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) cement, containing up to 60% slag, is sometimes used in repair materials applied at intermediate temperatures of 150-300 °C. Low rate of strength development, especially at early ages, is considered a common disadvantage of repair mortars based on slag cement. The present research was oriented to improving a GBFS-portland cement binder for application as a repair material in the chemical industry when high thermal or acid resistance is required. It was found that the enhancement of GBFS-portland cement-based materials can be achieved with the help of silica fume (SF) and a superplasticizer (SP). The effect of different SPs on the compressive and flexural strength of SF-blast furnace slag-portland cement mortars was investigated. These mortars, in addition to high strength, demonstrate high thermal and acid resistance.     

Magnesium sulfate attack on hardened blended cement pastes under different circumstances

This paper describes the sulfate resistance of some hardened blended Portland cement pastes. The blending materials used were silica fume (SF), slag, and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃, CC?). The blended cement pastes were prepared by using W/S ratio of 0.3. The effects of immersion in 10% MgSO₄ solution under different conditions (room temperature, 60 °C, and drying-immersion cycles at 60 °C) on the compressive strength of the various hardened blended cement pastes were studied. Slag and CC? improve the sulfate resistance of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) paste. Mass change of the different mixes immersed in sulfate solution at 60 °C with drying-immersion cycles was determined. The drying-immersion cyclic process at 60 °C accelerates sulfate attacks. This process can be considered an accelerated method to evaluate sulfate resistance of hardened cement pastes, mortars, and concretes.     

Effect of elevated temperatures on the residual mechanical properties of high-performance mortar

The effect of high temperature on the mechanical properties of high-strength mortar was investigated. Specimens were heated up to elevated temperatures (300, 600, 900 °C ) without loading. After being exposed to these oven temperatures, the residual modulus of elasticity, flexural strength and compressive strength of the specimens were determined. The effect of the rate of heating, duration of exposure to maximum temperature and the role of graphite powder, which is known as a high-temperature refractory material on the behavior of the mortar specimens, were observed. Temperatures up to 600 °C resulted in considerable losses in mechanical properties, and at 900 °C, specimens lost almost all of their strength. Higher rate of heating and exposure to the maximum temperature for a shorter period of time resulted in higher residual properties. The useful effect of graphite addition on the residual compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the mortar specimens as percentages of initial values for each of the heating cycles are clearly observed.     

硅灰改性水泥/石灰砂浆微观结构的研究

以水泥和石灰为胶凝材料,中细砂为集料,再掺加有机聚合物流化剂制成水泥/石灰砂浆,水泥/石灰砂浆中添加外加剂的文献资料很少,通常是有关水泥砂浆的研究.本实验用硅灰取代10%(质量分数)的普通硅酸盐水泥,水泥、石灰和砂子的质量比为3:1:12,外加有机聚合物对砂浆改性,利用扫描电子显微镜、能谱仪和压汞仪对浆体进行微观分析.分析结果显示,由于硅灰的加入,浆体内部水化产物在早期先以Ⅲ型C-S-H凝胶的形式出现,随后,Ⅲ型和I型的C-S-H凝胶以并存的形式在水化后期出现;正如预期的那样,试样的总的孔隙率也比没加硅灰前有了大幅度的下降,而抗压强度的提高在水化后期才表现出来.     

Si MAS-NMR Study of Hydrated Cement Paste and Mortar Made with and without Silica Fume

This paper presents ²⁹Si MAS-NMR measurements that trace the hydration process in both cement paste and mortar specimens made from ordinary portland cement, Type I, when the cement content is replaced by 0, 10, 15, and 20 wt% of silica fume. The specimens were moist-cured for 3, 7, 14, 28, 90, and 180 days at a laboratory temperature of 21°C (69.8°F). Compressive strength for all tested specimens was also determined. The results show that the degree of hydration (Q¹+ Q²)/(Q°+ Q¹+ Q²) increased with increasing content of silica fume, especially at the early ages of 3 to 28 days. In the same manner, compressive strength results were markedly increased up to 14 days and were lowered at later ages, compared to the control mix (0 wt% silica fume).     

Effect of brief heat-curing on microstructure and mechanical properties in fresh cement based mortars

The effect of temperature on fresh mortar and cement paste was evaluated by simulating the curing conditions of external buildings plastering applied under extremely hot weather. The specimens were heated at controlled temperatures in the 40−80 °C range by exposure to IR radiation over short periods. The effect of soaking for a short time was also examined. The results of compressive strength tests, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and mercury porosimetry helped to characterize the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of the studied sample. Early age behaviour (28 days) in neat cement was barely affected by the temperature. By contrast, exposure to high temperatures caused significant microstructural changes in the mortar. However, successive soaking over short periods was found to reactivate the mechanism of curing and restore the expected mechanical properties. Based on the results, application of cement based mortar at high temperatures is effective when followed by a short, specific soaking process.     

低温干湿循环条件下砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能试验研究

研究了不同水胶比水泥砂浆试件在低温干湿循环条件作用下的抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能.试验制作了0.36与0.5两种水胶比的普通硅酸盐水泥、中抗硫水泥以及矿粉-硅灰复掺的水泥砂浆试件,检测了试件标养28 d后的孔结构及各试件在(5±1)℃的3％Na2 SO4溶液中干湿循环后的强度、动弹性模量变化情况,对砂浆在低温干湿循环条件下的抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能进行了评价,并分析了检测指标间的相关性.结果表明:低温干湿循环条件下,0.5水胶比砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能低于0.36水胶比砂浆,抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能随着水胶比的降低而提高;低水胶比砂浆复掺矿粉-硅灰后抗低温干湿循环条件下的硫酸盐侵蚀性能提升明显;两个水胶比砂浆的相对动弹模均与抗压强度高度相关.     

5℃环境下水泥砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能试验研究

研究了不同水泥品种、矿物掺合料对水泥基材料在5℃下抗硫酸盐侵蚀的性能的影响,分别采用普通硅酸盐水泥、中抗硫水泥以及加入矿粉与硅灰的水泥砂浆试件,测试各试样在(5±1)℃的3%Na2 SO4溶液浸泡后的强度变化情况,综合考虑砂浆强度与抗蚀系数对砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能进行评价,并运用SEM、EDS、XRD分析方法对腐蚀机理进行了分析.结果表明:在5℃环境下,砂浆试样的强度普遍低于常温环境下,砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀能力15%矿粉+3%硅灰>中抗硫水泥>15%矿粉+1%硅灰>普通硅酸盐水泥;加入矿物掺合料明显改善了水泥砂浆抗硫酸盐侵蚀性能,并且硅灰的含量越高效果越明显;低温下腐蚀产物不仅有石膏,还有碳硫硅钙石的生成.     

The effect of MgSO4 and HCL solutions on the strength and durability of pozzolan cement mortars

Pozzolan cements are produced by adding pozzolans such as silica fume, rice husk ash, blast furnace slag, fly ash, trass in 20% replacement for Portland cement. On the 28th day of production, the produced specimens are stored in water, in MgSO₄·7H₂O (5%) solution and in HCl (pH = 2) solution. The strengths and weights were determined after the mortars are stored in solutions for 56 days. Compressive strengths of the mortars stored in water for 28 days are silica fume, rice husk ash, and control, 43.3, 40.1, and 31.0 MPa, respectively. The highest loss of compressive strength is 20% and the highest gain of weight is 4.2%, occurring in blast furnace slag mortar in MgSO₄.     

Steam-cured concrete incorporating mineral admixtures

This paper explores the potential benefits of steam-cured concrete, particularly on mixes incorporating mineral admixtures. Twenty mixes with various combinations of Portland cement, fly ash (FA), slag and silica fume (SF) were investigated. For each mix, specimens were either standard-cured in a water bath of 27 °C or steam-cured at 55 °C maximum temperature over 8 h. For the materials and test conditions reported in this study, it was found that steam-cured concretes were more porous as indicated by the much higher sorptivity values compared with standard-cured specimens. Mixes with SF have the best performance and hold promise in precast manufacturing due to their high early strength development and low sorptivity values.     

Studies on delayed ettringite formation in early-age, heat-cured mortars: I. Expansion measurements, changes in dynamic modulus of elasticity, and weight gains

Mortars were prepared from laboratory cements blended from a set of six representative ground clinkers and Terra Alba gypsum. The addition of gypsum was such that cements containing 1% SO₃ less than the optimum SO₃ content, the optimum SO₃ content, and 1% greater than the optimum SO₃ content were produced. Mortar bars and mortar cubes containing each of these cements were exposed to continuous room temperature (23 °C) curing, or to early-age curing cycles involving maximum temperatures of 55 and 85 °C, followed by long-term exposure at 100% RH over water, but not immersed in water. Measurements of expansion, dynamic elastic modulus, and weight gain were recorded at intervals of up to 900 days. Severe cracking and prominent delayed ettringite formation (DEF)-induced expansions were observed in 85 °C cured mortar bars derived from four of the six “oversulfated” cements. Much smaller expansions were observed in mortar bars from two cements with optimum SO₃ content cements also cured at 85 °C. No expansion or other visible indication of distress was observed for any of the 55 °C or continuously room-temperature-cured mortars. The dynamic elastic modulus increased progressively on prolonged exposure for the unaffected mortar bars, but it decreased precipitously after the onset of expansion in affected mortar bars. Significant weight increases also accompanied the processes of expansion. Mortars that showed severe cracking and deterioration when exposed as mortar bars suffered almost no visible damage when exposed as cubes.     

Several properties of mineral admixtured lightweight mortars at elevated temperatures

The improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of mortars including expanded perlite aggregate (EPA) containing either clinoptilolite, a type of natural zeolite (NZ), waste glass powder (GP) or blast furnace slag (BFS) cured at elevated temperature was analyzed using thermal conductivity, compressive strength, flexure strength and dry unit weight. EPA mortar specimens were prepared by replacing a varying part of the portland cement with the above minerals. All mortar samples were prepared and cured at 23±1°C lime saturated water for 28 days. The maximum thermal conductivity of 1.3511W/mK was determined with the control samples containing plain cement. GP has shown 1 and 4% decrease for both 10, 20% GP and 25% EPA, respectively. Both BFS and NZ have a decreasing effect on thermal conductivity. The experiments were carried out, in which the samples were subjected to temperature of 300, 500 and 800°C for 2 h, then cooled in air. The results indicated that all the mortars exposed to temperature of 500 and 800°C shown a significant decrease in thermal conductivity, compressive strength and flexure strength. However, compared with the mortars including 25% EPA, adding the other admixtures at all level replacement decreased thermal conductivity, compressive strength, flexure strength and dry unit weight as a function of replacement percent. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The macro- and micro properties of cement pastes with silica-rich materials cured by wet-mixed steaming injection

This research used cement pastes with a low water/blaine ratio (W/b=0.27). Rice husk ashes (RHA) burned at 700 and 850 °C, silica fume, silica sand (Ottawa standard sand), etc., were the added ingredients. Wet-mixed steam injection (WMSI) was at five different temperatures: 65, 80, 120, 150 and 180 °C. We investigated cement pastes with added silica-rich materials. For different WMSI temperatures and times, we explored the relations between compressive strength, hydration products, and pozzolanic reaction mechanism. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDS, we know that hydration products become very complicated, depending on the WMSI temperatures and times. It is difficult to determine the direct effects on the strength based on changes in the products. Experimental results, however, clearly showed that the compressive strength was worst for 80 °C and best for 180 °C. High-temperature WMSI is best with 4-h presteaming period and 8-h retention time. Curing in saturated limewater for 28 days did not increase the strength. The three types of silica-rich materials used in this research all participated in the reaction during high-temperature WMSI; they helped to increase the strength. Addition of Ottawa standard sand resulted in the best strength, followed by addition of RHA, while addition of silica fume was worse than the others. Specimens treated with high-temperature WMSI would swell slightly if they were placed in air. This was different from normal-temperature curing.     

Experimental study on properties of polymer-modified cement mortars with silica fume

This paper discussed the flexural and the compressive strengths of polyacrylic ester (PAE) emulsion and silica fume (SF)-modified mortar. The chloride ion permeability in cement mortar and the interfacial microhardness between aggregates and matrix were measured. The chemical reactions between polymer and cement-hydrated product were investigated by the infrared spectral technology. The results show that the decrease of porosity and increase of density of cement mortars can be achieved by the pozzolanic effect of SF, the water-reducing and -filling effect of polymer. Lower porosity and higher density can give cement mortars such properties as higher flexural and compressive strength, higher microhardness value in interfacial zone and lower effective diffusion coefficient of chloride ion in matrix.     

Influence of cover thickness on the mechanical properties of steel bar in mortar exposed to high temperatures

Concrete protects the steel inside against several effects of the external environment. One of the most important of these effects is high temperature. Cover plays a critical role in concrete's protection on reinforcement against high temperature. In this study, the changes after high temperatures in mechanical properties of the reinforcement steels placed between 3 and 5 cm covers inside the mortar specimen prepared with CEM I 42.5 R and CEM II/B‐M (P‐L) 32.5 R cements were investigated. In order to ensure 3 and 5 cm covers 76 × 76 × 310 and 116 × 116 × 350 mm sized reinforced mortar specimen were prepared. These reinforced mortar specimens were exposed to 20, 100, 200, 300, 500 and 800°C temperatures and after that on the steels taken out of these mortar specimen tensile strength, tests were applied in order to determine the mechanical properties. With the tensile strength tests performed stress–strain curves of the steel bars exposed to several temperatures were drawn. Besides, the yield and ultimate strengths of the steel bars were determined. The results of the study have shown that the larger the covers, the better the steel bars are protected against high temperatures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of cement C3A content, temperature and storage medium on thaumasite formation in carbonated mortars

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of cement C₃A content, temperature and composition of the immersion medium (water, gypsum and magnesium sulphate solution) on the rate of thaumasite formation in cement mortars. It also aims to ascertain how the C₃A content influences the composition of the salt formed.The mortar prisms for this study were made with two different cements, one with low and the other with high Al₂O₃ content, with or without gypsum and/or calcium carbonate. After hydration, curing and carbonation, the prisms were partially immersed in distilled water and stored at temperatures ranging from 0 to 5 °C for up to 5 years. Some of the prisms were immersed in a 2% (w/w) gypsum solution or in 1.4% (w/w) magnesium sulphate solution at ambient temperature. Samples were taken at different ages and mineralogical and micro-structurally characterised.Some of the specimens tested were observed to expand, in a process concurring with the formation of thaumasite or a solid solution of thaumasite and ettringite, at both ambient and cooler temperatures. A correlation was found between cement C₃A content and the composition of the deterioration product involved in the expansive process: thaumasite forms in mortars made with low C₃A cement, whereas mixed crystals or solid solutions of thaumasite and ettringite form in mortars made with high C₃A content cement.     

High-strength lightweight concrete made with scoria aggregate containing mineral admixtures

This paper presents a part of the results of an ongoing laboratory work carried out to design a structural lightweight high strength concrete (SLWHSC) made with and without mineral admixtures. In the mixtures, basaltic-pumice (scoria) was used as lightweight aggregate.A control lightweight concrete mixture made with lightweight basaltic-pumice (scoria) containing normal Portland cement as the binder was prepared. The control lightweight concrete mixture was modified by replacing 20% of the cement with fly ash. The control lightweight concrete mixture was also modified by replacing 10% of the cement with silica fume. A ternary lightweight concrete mixture was also prepared modifying the control lightweight concrete by replacing 20% of cement with fly ash and 10% of cement with silica fume. Two normal weight concrete (NWC) were also prepared for comparison purpose.Fly ash and silica fume are used for economical and environmental concerns. Cylinder specimens with 150 mm diameter and 300 mm height and prismatic specimens with dimension 100×100×500 mm were cast from the fresh mixtures to measure compressive and flexural tensile strength. The concrete samples were cured at 65% relative humidity with 20 °C temperature. The density and slump workability of fresh concrete mixtures were also measured.Laboratory test results showed that structural lightweight concrete (SLWC) can be produced by the use of scoria. However, the use of mineral additives seems to be mandatory for production of SLWHSC. The use of ternary mixture was recommended due to its satisfactory strength development and environmental friendliness.