Influence of size-classified and slightly soluble mineral additives on hydration of tricalcium silicate

Early-age hydration of cement is enhanced by slightly soluble mineral additives (ie, fillers, such as quartz and limestone). However, few studies have attempted to systematically compare the effects of different fillers on cementitious hydration rates, and none have quantified such effects using fillers with comparable, size-classified particle size distributions (PSDs). This study examines the influence of size-classified fillers [ie, limestone (CaCO₃), quartz (SiO₂), corundum (Al₂O₃), and rutile (TiO₂)] on early-age hydration kinetics of tricalcium silicate (C₃S) using a combination of experimental methods, while also employing a modified phase boundary and nucleation and growth model. In prior studies, wherein fillers with broad PSDs were used, it has been reported that between quartz and limestone, the latter is a superior filler due to its ability to partake in anion-exchange reactions with C-S-H. Contrary to prior investigations, this study shows that when size-classified and area matched fillers are used—which, essentially, eliminate degrees of freedom associated with surface area and agglomeration of filler particulates—the filler effect of quartz is broadly similar to that of limestone as well as rutile. Results also show that unlike quartz, limestone, and rutile—which enhance C₃S hydration kinetics—corundum suppresses hydration of C₃S during the first several hours after mixing. Such deceleration in C₃S hydration kinetics is attributed to the adsorption of aluminate anions—released from corundum's dissolution—onto anhydrous particulates’ surfaces, which impedes both the dissolution of C₃S and heterogeneous nucleation of C-S-H.     

Nucleation‐controlled dual semicrystalline morphology of polyamide 11

Crystallization of polyamide 11 at low supercooling of the melt proceeds via heterogeneous nucleation and spherulitic growth of lamellae, while at temperatures close to the glass transition homogeneous nucleation prevails, preventing spherulite formation and leading to formation of a large number of nanometer‐sized mesophase domains. It is shown that spherulitic and non‐spherulitic crystallization at low and high supercooling of the melt, respectively, can be enforced by tailoring the cooling conditions, causing a twofold semicrystalline morphology at ambient temperature. Analysis of non‐isothermal crystallization as a function of the cooling rate, using fast scanning chip calorimetry, reveals that in the case of polyamide 11 such twofold semicrystalline morphology is predicted when cooling at rates between about 20 and 200 K s^?1, since then two separate crystallization events are observed. The prediction has been confirmed by preparation of films crystallized during ballistic cooling at different rates which then were analyzed regarding their structure using optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and calorimetry. The study is completed by discussion of implications of twofold non‐isothermal crystallization for structure evolution in polymer processing, as well as by providing information that such behavior is not only typical for polyamide 11 but also for isotactic polypropylene or poly(butylene terephthalate) as two further examples. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Economic Indicators

Currency exchanges rates – updated monthly. Economic indicators of industrial production. Countries included: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan (Total G-7), Eurozone and Total EU-28 (Total OECD). Updated monthly. Economic indicators of car registration in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, Republic of Korea and Other OECD (Total OECD-30). Updated monthly. Monthly averages of crude steel production in thousand metric tons for the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Iran, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Australia.     

镁钛复合处理对不锈钢凝固组织的影响及机制

摘要：TiN是铁素体不锈钢有效的异质形核剂，但钢中大尺寸的TiN颗粒会对不锈钢板材表面质量带来不利影响。为此，提出依靠镁钛复合处理来细化TiN颗粒及控制宏观晶粒的方法。通过良好气氛保护的电阻炉试验，研究了添加Mg和Ti元素对于铁素体不锈钢宏观铸态组织和TiN颗粒细化效果的影响规律，并对其细化机理进行了详细分析。经研究得知，向铁素体不锈钢中添加了微量Mg和Ti元素后试样宏观等轴晶比例由37%提高至50%，TiN颗粒平均尺寸由处理前的5μm细化至2μm。镁钛复合处理后，钢液中形成的MgO和MgAl2O4与TiN之间的晶格错配度很低，分别为1.14和5.29，均属于有效形核范围，可以成为TiN异质形核核心，促进在晶内均匀析出更多的TiN。同时基于TiN与铁素体相之间的良好的晶格匹配关系，其进一步促进了δ-Fe形核，从而有效细化了铁素体宏观组织，这将有利于提高铁素体不锈钢力学性能和表面质量。     

Enhanced gas barrier properties of graphene-TiO2 nanocomposites on plastic substrates assisted by UV photoreduction of graphene oxide

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets have received great attention as a key element for thin barrier films that block the permeation of water vapor and other gases. However, it remains a challenge to prepare the rGO-based barrier films on plastic substrates through a chemically benign and low temperature fabrication route. Toxic chemicals or high temperature thermal treatments that are widely used for preparing rGO need to be avoided because they can damage the underlying plastic substrates. In this study, we report the fabrication of rGO/TiO₂ composite films via an eco-friendly and low temperature ultraviolet (UV) photoreduction process and demonstrate their enhanced gas barrier properties by measuring water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs). When photocatalytic TiO₂ nanoparticles are employed, UV exposure reduces the GO/TiO₂ composite solution to form rGO/TiO₂, which is subsequently deposited on plastic substrates. The rGO/TiO₂ composites become resistant to water absorption because the UV photoreduction of GO/TiO₂ effectively removes most polar groups on the GO sheets. We confirmed that rGO/TiO₂ composites were successfully deposited onto the plastic substrate through a solution process and the barrier films led to a substantial reduction in WVTRs of the substrate. Our strategy for preparing graphene-based thin barrier films by using a UV photoreduction process enables the fabrication of solution-processed graphene-based encapsulation layers on plastic substrates with an eco-friendly and low temperature fabrication method.     

西宁市建筑主体材料放射性水平及氡析出率的研究

采用低本底多道NaI(Tl)γ能谱仪和ERS-2-S氡钍射气析出仪对西宁市建筑主体材料中天然放射性核素比活度及氡的析出率进行测定,并按照相关标准进行评价。结果表明,除红砖、碎石和砂子外,其他建筑材料中~(40) K的比活度均低于西宁市区土壤~(40) K的平均值,红砖、灰渣砖、加气块和水泥中~(226) Ra和~(232) Th的平均比活度均高于该区域土壤中相应核素的平均值。所调查建筑材料内、外照指数均小于1,其放射性水平满足国标限量要求;部分样品的居民接受有效剂量当量率略高于最大允许限值1mSv/a,生产加工过程中须控制工业废渣的使用。     

Grain count in castings: theoretical background and experimental verification

In this work, a theoretical model is proposed for heterogeneous nucleation on substrates whose size distributions can be described by the Weibull statistics. In particular, the proposed model suggests that the size distribution for the various nucleation sites is exponential in nature. Measurements of grain count were carried out on experimental Al–1·3Si and Al–5·0Cu single phase alloys inoculated using an Al–5Ti–1B master alloy. In addition, experimental nodular and flake graphite iron castings were processed under various metallurgical conditions. In single phase alloys, the area of the equiaxed dendritic grain count was estimated from the electron backscattering diffraction analysis, whereas the graphite nodule and graphite eutectic cell count were estimated on polished cast iron surface sections by stereological means. In addition, maximum undercoolings were determined by thermal analysis. The experimental outcome indicates that the grain count can be properly described by a proposed exponential function of the maximum undercooling at the onset of alloy solidification. Finally, the magnitudes of the nucleation parameters were experimentally determined in this work.     

A review of the IEA/NEA Projected Costs of Electricity – 2015 edition

The IEA/NEA recently issued their eighth edition of the Study on the “Projected Costs of Generating Electricity” – 2015 edition. The Study is mainly concerned with calculating the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE). The LCOE calculations are based on a levelised average life time cost approach using the discounted cash flow (DCF) method. The analysis was this year, and for the first time, performed using three discount rates (3%, 7%, and 10%). The LCOE can serve as a tool for calculating the cost of different generation technologies. However the Study's usefulness is affected by its narrow base of a limited set of countries that are not necessarily representative. It ignored the negative role of subsidies and did not provide a methodology for selective application of the discount rates and costing of carbon. The global power generation scene is changing. Generation growth in OECD countries has become very limited; simultaneously there is rapid growth of varying renewables (VRE) generation which needs special criteria for assessing its system cost. All this demands a rethinking of the application and usefulness of the LCOE in future generation planning.