Early age microstructure of Portland cement mortar investigated by ultrasonic shear waves and numerical simulation

This paper investigates the ability of a shear wave reflection (WR) method to monitor microstructural changes of Portland cement mortar during hydration. The wave reflection method measures the reflection loss of shear waves at an interface between a steel plate and mortar. Mortars with water/cement ratios of 0.35, 0.5 and 0.6 were tested at isothermal curing conditions of 25 °C. The numerical model HYMOSTRUC3D was used to simulate the evolution of microstructural properties of the cement paste phase of the tested mortars. The parameters obtained from the simulations were the volume fraction of the total and connected solid phase and the specific contact area of the hydrated cement particles. The investigations have shown that the wave reflection measurements are governed primarily by the degree of the inter-particle bonding of the cement particles as calculated from the specific contact area of a simulated microstructure.     

Scrolls and nested tubes in multiwall carbon nanotubes

Recent high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) studies of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reveal a class of defects analogous to edge dislocations in a crystal. These defects are believed to mark the transition from scrolls on one side to nested tubes on the other. On the tube side, layer spacing becomes irregular. Analysis of the helicity of the tubes shows a strong correlation between diameter and helicity. This suggests that the organizing principle for the tubes is not Van der Waals forces, as in the case of graphite or turbostratic carbon, but preservation of helicity. Based on these observations and total energy calculations, the authors speculate that graphene monolayers initially form scrolls and subsequently transform into multiwall nanotubes through the progression of defects. Scrolls and nested tubes thus coexist within a single MWNT.     

Euclidean Distance Mapping for computing microstructural gradients at interfaces in composite materials

This paper presents an image analysis procedure using Euclidean Distance Mapping to compute microstructural gradients at interfaces in composite materials. This method is capable of producing phase distribution plots at single pixel strip width very quickly and efficiently. Compared to conventional dilation-subtraction strip analysis, the new method is faster, more flexible and is not constrained by feature geometry and boundary conditions. This allows for truly random and unbiased sampling. The new method was applied to investigate microstructural gradients at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of an ordinary Portland cement concrete. The average results show strong gradients in anhydrous cement and detectable porosity at the ITZ, but this is highly variable from location to location. The overall ITZ characteristics depend on the amount of calcium hydroxide deposited on aggregate particles. The new method was able to measure the effect of these calcium hydroxide deposits on the porosity gradient, which has not been reported before.     

空气气氛中烧成Si3N4-SiC复合材料的性能、相组成和显微结构

以氮化硅细粉(粒度＜0.088 mm,w(β-Si3N4)＞95%)、碳化硅(w(SiC)＞98%,粒度分别为2.8～0.9mm、0.9～0.15 mm、＜0.115 mm和＜0.063 mm四级)、硅粉(粒度＜0.045 mm,w(Si)＞98%)和硅灰(w(SiO2)=98.3%)为原料,以木质素磺酸钙水溶液作成型结合剂,采用150 MPa的压力成型为65 mm×114 mm×230mm的Si3N4-SiC、Si3N4-SiC-Si和Si3N4-SiC-SiO2三种试样.在空气气氛中,以50℃·h-1的升温速度升至800℃保温4 h,再升至1450℃保温2 h,自然冷却至室温后,测定烧成后试样的常温耐压强度、常温抗折强度、1400℃下的高温抗折强度、显气孔率、体积密度和残氮率,并采用XRD、SEM和EPMA等手段分析烧后试样的相组成和显微结构.结果表明3种试样在空气气氛中烧成后的高温(1400℃)和常温抗折强度都比较高,显气孔率都比较低,而耐压强度则以Si3N4-SiC试样的最高;烧成后试样中心区域的残氮率以Si3N4-SiC-Si试样的最高,Si3N4-SiC-SiO2试样的次之,Si3N4-SiC试样的最小;在空气气氛中烧成后,Si3N4-SiC试样中的Si3N4分解较多,SiC-Si3 N4-Si试样的表面和内部都明显含有单质Si,SiC-Si3N4-SiO2试样表面区域的Si2N2O晶体发育很好,而内部区域的晶体发育较小.     

Catalyst surface at a fractal of cost—a quest for optimal catalyst loading

Intuition tells us that any decrease in the catalytically active surface area should result in an equivalent decrease in the reaction yield and efficiency. Our findings counter this by showing that the active surface and hence the catalyst loading can be reduced drastically in the diffusion-limited heterogeneous reaction systems, while the conversion rate remains essentially unchanged by using fractals for spatial distribution of the catalyst load. The results of this study provide an unusual circumstance for optimal design of chemically active surfaces and can be used to drastically reduce cost of heterogeneous chemical and biological reactors, sensors, and electrodes of fuel cells. The proposed approach can be exploited to its fullest extent in chemical microsystems by utilizing the latest advances in our abilities to manipulate matter on the micro/nano scale.     

Potential for use of crushed waste calcined-clay brick as a supplementary cementitious material in Brazil

The Brazilian ceramic industry generates large amounts of calcined-clay waste. This paper examines the factors that influence its potential for use as a partial replacement of Portland cement. Superplasticized mortars of equal workability containing ground crushed waste calcined-clay brick (GCWCCB) in the proportions of 10, 20, 30 and 40% as a cement replacement were analyzed through mechanical tests, pore structure characterization and durability tests. The results indicated the optimal percentages of substitution lies between 10% to 20%. The potential reduction of CO₂ emissions could be as high as 10% of current Brazilian cement industry emissions if this approach were to be fully implemented, and it could be eligible for “Clean Development Mechanism” credits under Kyoto protocol.     

ZrO2-CaO-BN复合材料抗氧化性的研究

为解决浸入式水口的结瘤问题 ,采用热压烧结方法制备了ZrO2 -CaO -BN复合材料 ,讨论了其氧化动力学过程 ,推导了氧化速度和氧化温度的数学关系式 ,并研究了其抗氧化性能及氧化层产物的显微结构。实验表明 :ZrO2 -CaO -BN复合材料在 90 0℃以下有很好的抗氧化性 ,而在 12 0 0℃以上氧化明显加剧 ;135 0℃时 ,材料的氧化产物主要由Ca3 B2 O6组成 ;ZrO2 -CaO -BN材料的氧化规律服从反应控速 -混合控速 -扩散控速 3段模型。     

Evolution of chemistry and morphology during the carbonization and combustion of rice husk

Both fine carbon/silica and pure silica powders can be obtained by carbonization and combustion of rice husk under non-isothermal conditions, and the products can be used for preparation of high-quality ceramic materials. Studies on the morphology, chemical and physical characteristics of products were carried out by N₂-adsorptionmeter, SEM, XRD, FTIR, ICP-MS and EA. Results indicate that decreasing the heating rate increased the specific surface area, pore volume and pore diameter. At a heating rate of 5 °C/min, the specific surface areas of both the carbon/silica and pure silica powders were 261 and 235 m²/g, and the average pore diameters were 2.2 and 5.4 nm, respectively. The products obtained from various heating rates were all amorphous. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed to study the reaction characteristics during carbonization or combustion, indicating that decomposition process of rice husk could be divided into three temperature zones. This results of the study can also provide the important information on the recovery of biomass material from rice husk.     

Reaction-formed W2B5/C composites with high performance

Highly densified W₂B₅/C composites with W₂B₅ content from 30 to 70 vol% were fabricated by reaction hot pressing of the powder mixture of B₄C, WC and carbon black. The reaction products were identified by XRD analysis to consist of only W₂B₅ and carbon, regardless of carbon content. The reaction formed composites have excellent mechanical properties (the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness of 786 MPa and 8.9 MPa m^1/2 respectively), electrical conductivity (the highest electrical conductivity of 1.64 × 10⁶ Ω⁻¹ m⁻¹), and resistance to both wear and oxidation because of the presence of the plate-like W₂B₅ grains. In this paper, the preparation, microstructure and properties of this new composite are investigated, and the strengthening, toughening, conduction mechanisms are discussed.