Characteristics of a melt of the corium–high alumina cement system

The characteristics (composition of the quenched samples, ingot, and evaporation products) are studied of the melt of the corium–high alumina cement system in a weight ratio of 1: 1. In the quenched samples of the melt and ingot, signs of phase separation in the molten state are found. Below a temperature of 2100°C above the melt, aerosol particles with trimodal size distribution are formed; however, above this temperature, the nature of the granulometry of aerosols is bimodal. Moreover, the formation rate of aerosols increases dramatically. The form of aerosol particles under all the experimental conditions was spherical.     

Composition and microstructure of a periclase–composite spinel brick used in the burning zone of a cement rotary kiln

The composition and microstructure of a periclase–composite spinel brick used in the burning zone of a cement rotary kiln were investigated and compared to the original brick. The results indicate that cement clinker and alkali salts are two important agents that cause corrosion especially of the bonding phase of refractories in cement rotary kilns. When the molar ratio of alkalis to anions ((Na+K)/(Cl+2S)) is more than one, alkali salts accumulated in the pores, cracks and grain boundaries of the refractory but the severe corrosion of the bonding phase of the refractory did not occur in zones with lower temperatures. The interaction between the cement clinker and the refractory formed a liquid, which, together with alkali salts, improved sintering. The reaction between the cement clinker and the refractory formed a dense reaction layer. Cracks formed in the dense layer and extended through the boundary between the reaction and non-reaction (penetrated) layers by mechanical and thermal stress, which caused the spalling of the reaction and coating layer from the refractory. The recurrence of this process during service leads to degradation of the refractory.     

The role of the symmetry and the flexibility of the anion on the characteristics of the nanostructures and the viscosities of ionic liquids☆

The transport properties of ionic liquids (ILs) are crucial properties in view of their applications in electrochem-ical devices. One of the most important advantages of ILs is that their chemical–physical properties and conse-quently their bulk performances can be well tuned by optimizing the chemical structures of their ions. This will require elucidating the structural features of the ions that fundamentally determine the characteristics of the nanostructures and the viscosities of ILs. Here we showed for the first time that the“rigidity”, the order, and the compactness of the three-dimensional ionic networks generated by the anions and the cation head groups determine the formation and the sizes of the nanostructures in the apolar domains of ILs. We also found that the properties of ionic networks are governed by the conformational flexibility and the symmetry of the anion and/or the cation head group. The thermal stability of the nanostructures of ILs was shown to be con-trolled by the sensitivity of the conformational equilibrium of the anion to the change of temperature. We showed that the viscosity of ILs is strongly related to the symmetry and the flexibility of the constitute ions rather than to the size of the nanostructures of ILs. Therefore, the characteristics of the nanostructures and the viscosities of ILs, especially the thermal stability of the nanostructures, can be fine-tuned by tailoring the symmetry and the conformational flexibility of the anion.     

Effect of fly ash–gypsum blend on porosity and pore size distribution of cement pastes

Abstract

Abstract

This paper reports results on the porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) of cement paste containing simulated desulphurised waste (SDW). The SDW was chosen due to the variability in chemical composition of real desulphurised waste. The SDW is a combination of fly ash and gypsum. The content of fly ash in the SDW changed from 0 to 100% by weight. The water to binder ratio was 0·5. The binder consists of cement and SDW. Cement in the pastes was partially replaced with 25 wt-% SDW. The porosity and PSD of cement pastes at 28 days of curing is reported. Increasing amount of gypsum does not seem to greatly change the pore volume; however, there is tendency of obtaining coarser pore structure in the presence of gypsum. The compressive strength increases with increasing amounts of gypsum. Correlation between strength and PSD is conducted.     

The combined action of Mg2+ and Cl− ions in cement pastes

In order to study the phenomenon of seawater attack on hydrated cement components, we focused our interest on the combined action of Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions on hydrated cement pastes. Thus, cement pastes were prepared from portland cement and its mixture with 30% pozzolan (Santorin Earth). These pastes were cured in baths of varied concentrations of Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions and stored in 18 ± 2°C. The hydration phenomena were studied in these cement pastes, by XRD and SEM.     

Effect of SiC–graphite–Al-metal addition on low- and ultra-low cement bauxite castables

Eight batches of low- and ultra-low cement castables were prepared from calcined Chinese bauxite and high alumina cement (HAC). The effect of alumina-cement replacement by SiC, graphite and aluminum metal on the sinterability and properties of these castables was investigated. Physical properties such as bulk density and apparent porosity of hydrated and sintered castables were studied. The sintered castables were also characterized for their solid phase compositions and microstructure using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In the castables containing SiC, new phases such as mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂), SiC, and quartz (SiO₂) were formed at the expense of calcium aluminate phases (i.e. CA and CA₂; the main cement phases). Generally, the bulk density of the control castable sample was the highest among all prepared samples, while the batches containing graphite showed the lowest bulk density. The presence of Al-metal reduced the oxidation of SiC and consequently increased the densification of the castables compared with castables containing graphite only. Cold crushing strength (CCS) of the hydrated specimens i.e. green castables, decreased as the additives contents increased at the expense of HAC which is responsible for the bonding at room temperature. The highest CCS value of the sintered castable was obtained for the sample containing 6 wt.% SiC, 3 wt.% CA and 0.5 wt.% Al-metal.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the Inclusion Complex of β-cyclodextrin and Azomethine

A β-cyclodextrin (β-Cyd) inclusion complex containing azomethine as a guest was prepared by kneading method with aliquot addition of ethanol. The product was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), which proves the formation of the inclusion complex where the benzyl part of azomethine has been encapsulated by the hydrophobic cavity of β-Cyd. The interaction of β-Cyd and azomethine was also analyzed by means of spectrometry by UV-Vis spectrophotometer to determine the formation constant. The formation constant was calculated by using a modified Benesi-Hildebrand equation at 25 °C. The apparent formation constant obtained was 1.29 × 10⁴ L/mol. Besides that, the stoichiometry ratio was also determined to be 1:1 for the inclusion complex of β-Cyd with azomethine.     

Effect of micro-sized alumina powder on the hydration products of calcium aluminate cement at 40 °C

In this work, the effect of different micro-sized alumina powders on the hydration products of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) during hydration at 40 °C is studied. The cement hydration at the designated times is terminated by the freeze-vacuum method. The phase development and microstructure evolution during the cement hydration are investigated by XRD and DSC, and SEM, respectively. It is found that 3CaO·Al₂O₃·6H₂O (C₃AH₆) is the dominant product of the pure CAC after hydration at 40 °C for 3.5 h. But 2CaO·Al₂O₃·8H₂O (C₂AH₈) is the dominant hydrate and C₃AH₆ is not found in the mixtures of CAC and micro-sized alumina powder under the same condition. The results indicate that the addition of alumina powders promotes the formation of C₂AH₈ and retards the conversion of C₂AH₈ to the C₃AH₆ phase. Moreover, such phase development with alumina addition is discussed.     

Ferroelectric hysteresis behavior and dielectric properties of 1–3 lead zirconate titanate–cement composites

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic was mixed with Portland cement (PC) to form 1–3 connectivity PZT–PC composite using a dice-and-fill technique. Ferroelectric hysteresis behavior and dielectric properties of these composites were investigated using PZT volume content of 60%, 70% and 80%. The results showed that the dielectric constant of the composite materials increased with PZT content and the dielectric constant (?_r) value is 781 for 80% PZT composite at 1 kHz. The dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) was found to decrease with increasing PZT content and the tan δ value of 80% PZT composite is 0.06. Parallel and series models were also compared to the dielectric measurement results. For the hysteresis measurements, the ferroelectric hysteresis loops can be seen for all composites. The “instantaneous” remnant polarization (P_ir) was found to increase with increasing PZT content from 3.20 to 4.28 μC/cm² at 90 Hz when PZT volume content used was 60% and 80% respectively.     

Periclase — Chromite concrete for lining of cement kilns

The object of the study is the technology of refractory concrete on a composite sodium-silicate binder for the lining of the sintering zone of rotary cement kilns. The developed composition of the refractory concrete contains chromium ore as the filler, which makes it possible to improve the operating properties of the material. The processes of formation of high-refractory compounds and the formation of a buffer zone at the clinker — refractory boundary in the concrete operating in the sintering zone of clinker kilns have been investigated. The physico-technical properties of the refractory concrete and the results of its experimental industrial testing are also given.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 3, pp. 23–24, March, 1994.