Search Results (7)

Wet–dry cycles are a key factor aggravating the durability degradation of foam concrete. To address this issue, this study prepared bentonite slurry–steel slag foam concrete (with steel slag and cement as main raw materials, and bentonite slurry as admixture) using the physical foaming method. Based on 7-day unconfined compressive strength tests with different mix proportions, the optimal mix proportion was determined as follows: mass ratio of bentonite to water 1:15, steel slag content 10%, and mass fraction of bentonite slurry 5%. Based on this optimal mix proportion, dry–wet cycle tests were carried out in both water and salt solution environments to systematically analyze the improvement effect of steel slag and bentonite slurry on the durability of foam concrete. The results show the following: steel slag can act as fine aggregate to play a skeleton role; after fully mixing with cement paste, it wraps the outer wall of foam, which not only reduces foam breakage but also inhibits the formation of large pores inside the specimen; bentonite slurry can densify the interface transition zone, improve the toughness of foam concrete, and inhibit the initiation and propagation of matrix cracks during the dry–wet cycle process; the composite addition of the two can significantly enhance the water erosion resistance and salt solution erosion resistance of foam concrete. The dry–wet cycle in the salt solution environment causes more severe erosion damage to foam concrete. The main reason is that, after chloride ions invade the cement matrix, they erode hydration products and generate expansive substances, thereby aggravating the matrix damage. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that, whether in water environment or salt solution environment, the fractal dimension of foam concrete decreased slightly with an increasing number of wet–dry cycle times. Based on fractal theory, this study established a compressive strength–porosity prediction model and a dense concrete compressive strength–dry–wet cycle times prediction model, and both models were validated against experimental data from other researchers. The research results can provide technical support for the development of durable foam concrete in harsh environments and the high-value utilization of steel slag solid waste, and are applicable to civil engineering lightweight porous material application scenarios requiring resistance to dry–wet cycle erosion, such as wall bodies and subgrade filling. Full article

The utilization of recycled concrete aggregate presents an effective solution for construction waste mitigation. However, concrete service in sulfate environments leads to sulfate ion retention in recycled aggregates, substantially impairing their quality and requiring modification approaches. A critical question remains whether traditional recycled aggregate modification techniques can effectively enhance the performance of these sulfate-containing recycled aggregates (SRA). Cement paste wrapping in various proportions was used in this investigation to enhance SRA. The performance of both SRA and modified aggregates was systematically assessed through measurements of apparent density, water absorption, crushing value, and microhardness. Microstructural analysis of the cement wrapping modification mechanism was conducted by scanning electron microscopy coupled with mercury intrusion porosimetry. Results revealed that internal sulfate addition decreased the crushing value and increased the water absorption of recycled aggregates, primarily due to micro-cracks formed by expansion. Additionally, the pores were occupied by erosion products, leading to a slight increase in the apparent density of aggregates. The performance of SRA was effectively enhanced by cement paste wrapping at a 0.6 water–binder ratio, whereas it was negatively impacted by a ratio of 1.0. The modifying effect became even more effective when 15% fly ash was added to the wrapping paste. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that the interface of SRA was predominantly composed of gypsum crystals. Cement paste wrapping greatly enhanced the original interface structure, despite a new dense interface formed in the modified aggregates. Full article

This study aimed to reveal the effects of the hydration products AH₃ and AFt phases on the hydration and hardening properties of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement. In addition, the effects of anhydrite ($\mathrm{C}\overline{\mathrm{S}}$) and gypsum ($\mathrm{C}\overline{\mathrm{S}}{\mathrm{H}}_2$) on the properties of CSA cement were compared. Calcium sulfoaluminate (${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{A}}_3\overline{\mathrm{S}})$ was synthesized with analytical reagents, and the ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{A}}_3\overline{\mathrm{S}}$-$\mathrm{C}\overline{\mathrm{S}}$-H₂O system with different molar ratios of $\mathrm{C}\overline{\mathrm{S}}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{A}}_3\overline{\mathrm{S}}$ was established. The phase compositions and contents of AFt and AH₃ were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld quantitative phase analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The effects of pore structure and hydration product morphology on mechanical properties were analyzed by mercury intrusion porosity (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the compressive strength exhibited a correlation with the AH₃ content. In the case of relatively sufficient anhydrite or gypsum, ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{A}}_3\overline{\mathrm{S}}$ has a high degree of hydration, and the AH₃ content can be considered to contribute more to the strength of the hardened cement paste. When anhydrite was selected, the combined and interlocked AFt crystals were covered or wrapped by a large amount of AH₃. The mechanical properties of the hardened cement paste mixed with anhydrite were better than those of that mixed with gypsum. Full article

In order to study the mechanical properties of ultra-high performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC) used for cable channel repair, orthogonal tests were carried out with four influencing factors, water binder ratio, silica fume, fly ash and mortar ratio, to obtain the optimum mix ratio of the cement paste. On this basis, the effects of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber on the fluidity, flexural strength and compressive strength of UHP-ECC were studied, and the micromechanism was analyzed with SEM. The results show that the fluidity of UHP-ECC material prepared was 170–200 mm, which meets the requirements of working performance. The average compressive strength at 28 days reached 85.3 MPa, and the average flexural strength at 28 days reached 22.3 MPa. EVA polymer has a fast film forming rate in an alkaline environment. The formed polymer film wraps the fiber, enhances the bridging role between the fiber and the matrix and increases the viscosity of the material. Therefore, the early flexural strength is significantly improved. The 1-d flexural strength of UHP-ECC material mixed with 9-mm fiber is increased by 18%, and the 1-d flexural strength of 3-mm fiber is increased by 15%. Due to PVA fiber’s high elastic modulus and tensile strength, it improved the flexural and tensile properties of the material after incorporation, especially in the later stages; the 28-d flexural strength of UHP-ECC material mixed with 9-mm fiber increased by 12%, and the 28-d flexural strength of 3-mm fiber increased by 7%. It was concluded that the effect of 9-mm PVA fiber is better than that of 3 mm PVA fiber. Full article

The use of tricyclic copolymer latex (AMPS) can effectively improve the carbonation resistance of sulphoaluminate cement. This paper investigated polymer AMPS and polycarboxylic acid to modify sulphoaluminate cement materials by exploring the carbonation level of sulphoaluminate cement paste and mortar and the strength before and after carbonation. Then, the optimal dosage of polymer and polycarboxylic acid was obtained so that the carbonation resistance of sulphoaluminate cement reached the best state. The compressive strength was significantly improved by adding AMPS for sulphoaluminate cement paste and mortar. After carbonation, the strength decreased and combined with the carbonation level; it was concluded that the carbonation resistance of sulphoaluminate cement materials was the best when the optimal dosage of AMPS and polycarboxylic acid was 5% and 1.8%, respectively. Due to the addition of AMPS, the hydrated calcium aluminosilicate (C-A-S-H) and hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) gels, generated by the hydration of sulphoaluminate cement and the surface of unreacted cement particles, are wrapped by AMPS particles. The water is discharged through cement hydration. The polymer particles on the surface of the hydration product merge into a continuous film, which binds the cement hydration product together to form an overall network structure, penetrating the entire cement hydration phase and forming a polymer cement mortar with excellent structural sealing performance. To prevent the entry of CO₂ and achieve the effect of anti-carbonation, adding polycarboxylic acid mainly improves the sample’s internal density to achieve the anti-carbonation purpose. Full article

Low field pulse nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) was used to analyze the effects of a polymeric ion retarder and the amount of acryloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) in the retarder on the distribution of T₂, thickening property, and strength of cement paste. The effect of pressure and temperature on the thickening curve was investigated, and the hydration products were analyzed using XRD. The result shows that the wrapped water of the precipitation is the main reaction aqueous phase of cement slurry in the hydration, with short T₂ time and a large relaxation peak area. The retarder weakens the van der Waals force and electrostatic adsorption force between the water and cement particles, reducing the hydration rate of cement particles. An appropriate increase in the cationic content of polymeric ion retarder can improve the early strength of cement slurry. Full article

In order to solve the problems of the sudden loss of fluidity and low expansion rate of CAM I (cement asphalt mortar type I) in a construction site with high environmental temperature, this paper studies the effect of temperature on the fluidity, expansion ratio and pH value of CAM I. The mechanism of action was analyzed by IR (infrared spectrometry), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and other test methods. The results showed that a high temperature accelerates aluminate formation in cement paste. Aluminate adsorbs emulsifiers leading to demulsification of emulsified asphalt, and wrapped on the surface of cement particles, this causes CAM I to lose its fluidity rapidly. The aluminum powder gasification reaction is inhibited, resulting in an abnormal change in the expansion ratio. Based on findings, the application of an appropriate amount of superplasticizers can effectively improve the workability and expansion characteristics of CAM I at a high temperature. Full article