A study on the specific rate of breakage of cement materials in a laboratory ball mill

The specific rate of breakage (S_i) in the widely accepted first-order expression of grinding rate is one of the important factors required to evaluate a grinding process, particularly for the initial grinding stage in various mill types.In this study, the effects of ball diameter and feed size on the specific rate of breakage were investigated on limestone, trass and clinker samples at batch grinding conditions based on a kinetic model. Eight different monosize fractions were prepared between 1.7 and 0.106 mm, using a √2 sieve series. The specific rates of breakage (S_i) were determined from the size distributions at different grinding times, and the specific rates of breakage were compared for three different ball diameters (41, 25.4 and 9.5 mm).The results indicated that the variation of the specific rate of breakage with feed size of cement materials could be expressed. For the specific rate of breakage of each material, empirical equations were developed to express it as a function of feed size and ball diameter.     

Hydrocarbon storage in unlined rock caverns in Greek limestone

The existence of tank farms in the vicinity of cities is a principal component of the urban vulnerability and risk conditions. Even if such environments have been accepted in the past, the enforcement of stricter environmental legislations and the emerging of a strong public opposition towards this co-existence, usually result in the relocation of the facilities. Nevertheless, the relocation process has to overcome a great deal of issues, such as high land cost and strong opposition from neighbouring communities, that often hinder or might even postpone the whole project. Answer to such standstill cases can be given by the development of underground complexes that can facilitate the storage requirements, efficiently and with enhanced environmental protection. Hence, the first area that should be considered for the tank farm relocation is found right beneath the existing facilities. This paper presents the Greek experience, paying special attention to the storage facilities found in the Perama area. The development of an underground storage complex is proposed in that particular area, which could finally offer a viable solution, satisfying the interests of all involved parties. The unlined caverns are to be excavated in limestone bedrock and the characteristics of this alternative are illustrated in detail, followed by the comparative cost analysis between the underground scheme and the surface relocation of the tank farm to another area in Attica.     

Cement composites with limestone dust and different grades of wood sawdust

This paper presents a parametric experimental study which investigates the potential use of limestone powder wastes (LPW) and wood sawdust wastes (WSW) combination for producing a lightweight composite as a building material. Some of the physical and mechanical properties of brick materials having various levels of LPW and WSW with different particle sizes are investigated. The obtained compressive strength, flexural strength, unit weight, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and water absorption values satisfy the relevant international standards. The results show the effect of high level replacement of WSW with LPW does not exhibit a sudden brittle fracture even beyond the failure loads, indicates high energy absorption capacity, reduce the unit weight dramatically and introduce a smoother surface compared to the current bricks in the market. It shows a potential to be used for walls, wooden board substitute, alternative to the concrete blocks, ceiling panels, sound barrier panels, absorption materials, etc. Recycling of unmanaged WSW and LPW as new brick material supplements appears to be viable solution not only to the environmental problem but also to the problem of the economic design of buildings.     

石灰石粉作为混凝土矿物掺合料应用问题的探讨

石灰石粉用作混凝土矿物掺合料还存在一些疑问,通过分析,探讨了石灰石矿物掺合料和人工砂的区别、石灰石粉是否是惰性掺合料、石灰石粉对混凝土力学性能的影响以及石灰石粉对混凝土耐久性能的影响。     

管桩生产中石灰石集料对混凝土强度的影响

采用石质为石灰石与石质为硅质岩的两种不同粗集料拌制混凝土,经过常压养护、压蒸养护等不同的混凝土蒸汽养护工艺,测定混凝土脱模抗压强度及压蒸后抗压强度。结果表明:石质为石灰石与石质为花岗岩的两种不同粗集料在常压养护结束后,混凝土抗压强度均有较大的增长,混凝土强度增长规律基本一致;但经压蒸养护后石质为石灰石与石质为花岗岩的两种不同粗集料配制的混凝土抗压强度产生很大的差异,石质为石灰石的粗集料配制的混凝土强度增长较低,而石质为硅质岩的粗集料配制的混凝土强度有很大的提高。     

Manipulation of the ash flow temperature and viscosity of a carbonaceous Sasol waste stream

In 2001 Sasol investigated the possibility to convert a Sasol-Lurgi MK III fixed bed dry bottom coal gasifier at the former Sasolburg coal-to-liquids plant to a slagging gasification process and selected the Lurgi Multi Purpose Gasification (MPG) process for this purpose. At the time the MPG process was considered as a possible technology option suitable for the gasification of feedstocks which are difficult to manage, for example solid-liquid mixtures which are unsuitable for conventional solids or liquids processes and furthermore tars with a large variety of properties and high solids content have been gasified successfully.The most obvious differences between the feedstocks previously gasified, compared to the Sasol dusty tar, were found to be the viscosity and melting point of the dusty tar. The viscosity of the Sasol dusty tar mixture (as received) was higher than a factor of 10 of the previously used feedstocks. Another important feedstock property is the ash melting point of the feed within the gasifier. Ash particles fed with the tar melt in the high temperature zone of the flame. Molten ash particles, which hit the gasifier wall, will solidify and stick to the wall, if the wall temperature is below the melting point of the ash. The melting point of the dusty tar ash is 1380 °C and a fluxing agent has to be added to the dusty in order to reduce the melting temperature below 1250 °C to limit excessive wear of the refractory lining.Two approaches were evaluated in order to lower the viscosity, i.e. milling of the dusty tar and addition of low viscosity feedstocks to the dusty tar. It was concluded from this study that the viscosity of dusty tar can be decreased with the addition of specific waste solvent streams. The ash fusion temperatures of dusty tar can be lowered with the addition of a fluxing agent. The addition of spent Fe-catalyst as fluxing agent was also investigated, but was found to be not as effective as limestone. In some cases the addition of Fe can cause the acid/base ratio to change in such a way that the ash fusion temperature increases.In conclusion it can be highlighted that the ash flow temperature and viscosity of the Sasol dusty tar stream, and possibly other carbonaceous sources as well, can be decreased to acceptable values for slagging gasification applications. The results clearly show in both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres the Fe-catalyst was transformed into the slag melt as either Fe₂O₃ under oxidizing conditions and FeO under reducing conditions. The slag showed no sign of metallic Fe and was very homogeneous under oxidizing and reducing conditions. Spent Fe-catalyst can be discarded in a safe and environmentally acceptable way during high temperature gasification.     

Influence of acrylic coatings on the interfacial, physical, and mechanical properties of stone-based monuments

Conservation of historical buildings is an important issue. The environmental conditions seriously affect the monumental stones. Although different coating materials were tested, the polymeric materials have been showing the most promising results for protection of archeological stones. Therefore, in the current study, the acrylic polymer was used for conservation of monuments made of sandstone and limestone. The adsorption of the acrylic polymer onto both stones was analyzed and the durability of the coatings under different environmental conditions was tested and simulated by artificial aging. Moreover, the mechanism of polymer-stone interactions was elucidated by interfacial characterization techniques.The results showed that the adsorption of polymer onto either stones is physical as shown by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and electrokinetic measurements. In addition, the presence of polymer coating shows a significant improvement in physical and mechanical properties of the treated stones, e.g., increase in bulk density from 1.9 to 2.3 g/cm³ and decrease in porosity from 15.8% to 2.7% as well as the noticeable increase in compressive strength. All these measures indicated the suitability of acrylic polymer for conservation of either stones.     

Process of extrusion in the unit of special design

Extrusion of paste materials is a means of processing powder materials to a granulated form. A powder material is mixed with a liquid and transformed to the form of paste. The paste has to have the appropriate flow properties to be able to be extruded. This is very important especially in the area of reduction between the barrel and die. There is the place where the paste has to deform itself and to flow into the holes of die that have a smaller cross section than is in the barrel. It is the zone where the rheology properties of paste and its speed have the biggest influence on the extrusion pressure. It can even happen that the paste can be dewatered under the pressure gradient in this place. If the rotor with blades is situated in this zone it has a positive influence on the process of extrusion. This element has an influence on the rate of shear strain and decreasing of the apparent viscosity with a following drop in the extrusion pressure. This paper describes research of the process of extrusion in equipment with separated drives of the screw and a rotor that is placed in the input zone in the hole of matrix. First influence of the operating speeds of screw and rotor on extrusion pressure is studied here, then it is compared with the torque that is needed for the drive of the rotor. According to the results it is evident that the extrusion pressure increases with the accrual of the speed of flowing paste and decreases with the increase of the rotors operating speed. The influence of flowing paste on the torque is complicated. There is an interval where the torque goes up and then an interval in which the torque decreases. The results of experiments confirmed that the rotor has a positive influence on the process of extrusion.We would like to thank the Grant Agency of the Slovak Republic for supporting our research work performed in the frame of Grant Project No.1/8092/01.     

Characterization of patinas by means of microscopic techniques

Many stone-made historic buildings have a yellowish layer called 'patina' on their external surface. In some cases, it is due to the natural ageing of the stone caused by chemical–physical reactions between the surface of the stone and the environment, and in other cases it is the result of biological activity. The origin of these patinas can be also be due to ancient protective treatments. The use of organic additives, such as protein-based compounds, in lime or gypsum-based patinas is a traditional technique, which has been used in past centuries for the conservation and protection of stone materials. The thinness of the patinas ensures that microscopic techniques are irreplaceable for their analysis. Optical Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy together with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer, and Electron Microprobe are the microscopic techniques used for the characterization of these coverings, providing very useful information on their composition, texture and structure.     

Influence of limestone and anhydrite on the hydration of Portland cements

The addition of CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ to Portland cement clinker influences the hydration and the strength development. An increase of the CaSO₄ content accelerates alite reaction during the first days and results in the formation of more ettringite, thus in a higher early compressive strength. The late compressive strength is decreased in Portland cements containing higher quantities of CaSO₄. The reduced late compressive strength seems to be related to an increase of the S/Si and Ca/Si content in the C–S–H.The presence of calcite leads to the formation of hemicarbonate and monocarbonate thus indirectly to more ettringite. Only a relatively small quantity of calcite reacts to form monocarbonate or hemicarbonate in Portland cement. Although hemicarbonate is thermodynamically less stable than monocarbonate, hemicarbonate formation is kinetically favored. Monocarbonate is present only after 1 week and longer independent of the quantity of calcite available and the content of sulphate in the cement.