Filtern
Dokumenttyp
- Zeitschriftenartikel (26)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (20)
- Vortrag (14)
- Beitrag zu einem Sammelband (4)
- Forschungsbericht (1)
Schlagworte
- Alkali-activated materials (35)
- Carbonation (8)
- Acid resistance (7)
- Concrete (7)
- Geopolymers (6)
- Durability (4)
- MIC (4)
- Steel corrosion (4)
- Acoustic emission (3)
- Biogene Schwefelsäurekorrosion (3)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 7.4 Baustofftechnologie (65) (entfernen)
Paper des Monats
- ja (3)
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (13)
Die Zementindustrie erzeugt etwa 6-7% der globalen CO2-Emissionen und steht damit als Industriezweig vor dem Hintergrund einer anvisierten Klimaneutralität vor gewaltigen Herausforderungen. Der Prozess der Klinkerherstellung wurde über die vergangenen Jahrzehnte bereits kontinuierlich optimiert. Seit 1990 ist es der deutschen Zementindustrie gelungen, die spezifischen CO2-Emissionen der Zementproduktion u. a. durch den Einsatz alternativer, nicht fossiler Brennstoffe und durch Absenkung des Klinkergehalts im Zement um 20 % zu senken. Weitere konventionelle Minderungsstrategien versprechen jedoch nur noch wenig zusätzliche Reduktion. Im Falle des Portlandklinkers besteht die Schwierigkeit darin, dass zwei Drittel der CO2-Emissionen rohstoffbedingt durch die Entsäuerung des Kalksteins (CaCO3) anfallen, die durch die beschriebenen Maßnahmen nicht weiter abgesenkt werden können. Vielmehr wird es erforderlich sein, noch zu entwickelnde oder zu optimierende Technologien anzuwenden und ggf. alle relevanten Ebenen wie Produktion, Weiterverarbeitung und Anwendung von Zement und Beton neu zu denken. Neben technologischen Ansätzen zur CO2-Abscheidung mit nachfolgender langfristiger Speicherung (Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS) oder Verwertung (Carbon Capture and Utilisation – CCU) werden auch alternative Rohstoffe für die Zementproduktion und alternative Bindemittel in Betracht zu ziehen sein.
Metakaolin-based alkali activated mortars (AAM) - with and without CuSO4·5H2O and ZnO addition (mass ratio Mn+/solid binder 0.08% to 1.7%) - were casted and exposed within an extensive long-term field campaign over the period of 20 months to a sewer basin, strongly affected by biogenic acid corrosion. (Un-)exposed AAM were tested regarding their physicochemical and microstructural properties, bioreceptivity and overall durability. Metal addition led to a retarding effect during alkali-activation reaction, as well as to an increase in open porosity of up to 3.0% and corresponding lower compressive strength of up to 10.9%. Reduced microbial colonization and diversity were observed on AAM with Cu, while Zn addition led to increased biodiversity. We propose that the observed higher durability of Cu-doped AAM is due to antibacterial effects and associated reduction of biogenic acid production, superseding overall negative effects of metal-dosage on physical material properties. Observed lower durability of Zn-doped AAM was related to combined negative physicochemical and microbial effects.
Hybrid cements (cements composed of Portland clinker, supplementary cementitious materials and an alkaline activator) potentially combine advantages of conventional cements with those of alternative binders, such as low heat of hydration and improved durability in some environments. While fly ash-based hybrid cements have been studied in considerable detail, slag-dominated hybrid cements appear to have received less attention. Here, the latter materials have been studied by isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and strength testing. The heat of hydration of these cements was as low as ~50% of that of an ordinary Portland cement, while their strength after 28-day curing was in the range 31–61 MPa. The phase assemblages after 28-day curing depended on the activator, with Na2SO4 leading to ettringite and Na2CO3 leading to hemicarbonate formation, respectively, besides C–A–S–H, portlandite and hydrotalcite. The U phase was identified when a high Na2SO4 dose and/or fly ash was employed. Na2SO4 accelerated the early reaction of the Portland clinker, while Na2CO3 appeared to decrease the extent of reaction of the clinker and led to a shift of the second hydration peak (likely related to slag reaction) to later hydration times, as did substitution of slag by fly ash. Increasing Na2SO4 dose from 4 to 6% did not lead to further acceleration of hydration or improved strength.
Due to environmental concerns regarding the use of Portland cement as the principal binder material in concrete and mortar it is imperative to identify alternative materials that could reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry. One alternative to address these issues is the use of alkali activated materials, in particular, when based on waste streams that currently have no or only limited industrial application. This paper reports a preliminary study into the synthesis of geopolymer mortar utilizing Brown Coal Fly Ash. The ash had a CaO content of ~39%, indicating that synthesis at ambient or low temperature may be feasible. The paper reports initial trials on the effect of curing temperature, ambient to 120 °C, on the mechanical properties of the mortars produced. The results showed that ambient cured mortar achieved a compressive strength of 6.5 MPa at 3 days. A curing temperature of 60 °C gave the optimum results with a compressive strength of almost 20 MPa and a flexural strength of 3.5 MPa obtained.
Die Hauptfunktion von Verschlussbauwerken für End- und Zwischenlager von radioaktiven Abfällen besteht in der Erhaltung der geologischen Barriere. Vor allem soll ein potenzieller Stofftransport durch eine möglichst geringe Permeabilität des Bauwerks verhindert bzw. auf vernachlässigbare Werte herabgesetzt werden. Die in-situ-Permeabilität des Verschlussbauwerks steht dabei in direktem Zusammenhang mit dessen Poren- und Makrostruktur, welche bei Bauwerken auf Basis von Beton insbesondere durch Schwind-verformungen und durch thermisch induzierte Rissbildung infolge der Reaktionswärmeentwicklung des Bindemittels gestört werden kann. Die Betone müssen daher neben einer hohen chemischen Langzeitstabilität auch eine geringe bzw. langsame Wärmeentwicklung während der Erhärtungsreaktionen aufweisen. Als hybride Zemente werden Mischungen aus Portlandzement, Betonzusatzstoffen und einem alkalischen Aktivator bezeichnet. Dabei können u. a. Alkalisulfate, Alkalicarbonate, Alkalisilicate und Alkalihydroxide als Aktivatoren zum Einsatz kommen. Aufgrund ihrer hohen chemischen Stabilität im salinaren Milieu sind Betone aus solchen Zementen potenziell besonders gut als Verfüllmaterial für End- und Zwischenlager im Steinsalz geeignet. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden daher hybride Zemente hinsichtlich ihrer Wärmeentwicklung in einem isothermen Kalorimeter sowie hinsichtlich Phasenbestand und Festigkeiten untersucht. Hybride Zementleime wurden auf Basis von Portlandklinker, Hüttensandmehl, Flugasche und Natriumsulfat hergestellt und die Zusammensetzungen systematisch variiert, um den Einfluss der Komponenten auf Wärmeentwicklung, Phasenbestand und mechanische Eigenschaften der Leime zu untersuchen; zusätzlich wurden zu Vergleichszwecken ein Zementleim auf Basis der Betonrezeptur M2 sowie eine alkalisch aktivierte Flugasche untersucht.
Hybrid cements are composites made of Portland cement or Portland clinker and one or more supplementary cementitious materials like slag, fly ash or metakaolin, activated with an alkali salt. To date, their hydration mechanism and the phase formation at various temperatures is insufficiently understood, partly due to the large variability of the raw materials used. In the present study, three hybrid cements based on ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, Portland clinker and sodium sulfate, and an alkali-activated slag/fly ash blend were cured at 10 and 21.5°C, and subsequently analyzed by XRD, 27Al MAS NMR, and TGA. The compressive strength of the hybrid cements was higher by up to 27% after 91-day curing at 10°C, compared to curing at 21.5°C. The experimental results as well as thermodynamic modeling indicate that the differences in compressive strength were related to a different phase assemblage, mainly differing amounts of strätlingite and C-N-A-S-H, and the associated differences of the volume of hydration products. While the strätlingite was amorphous to X-rays, it could be identified by 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopy, TGA and thermodynamic modeling. The microstructural properties of the hybrid cements and the alkali-activated slag/fly ash blend as well as the compatibility between thermodynamic modeling results and experimental data as a function of curing temperature and time are discussed.
Hydrous lithium aluminosilicate (L–A–S–H) and lithium aluminate (L–A–H) gels are candidate precursors for glass-ceramics and ceramics with potential advantages over conventional processing routes. However, their structure before calcination remained largely unknown, despite the importance of precursor structure on the properties of the resulting materials. In the present study, it is demonstrated that L–A–S–H and L–A–H gels with Li/Al ≤ 1 can be produced via an organic steric entrapment route, while higher Li/Al ratios lead to crystallization of gibbsite or nordstrandite. The composition and the structure of the gels was studied by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, 27Al and 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, and Raman spectroscopy. Aluminium was found to be almost exclusively in six-fold coordination in both the L–A–H and the L–A–S–H gels. Silicon in the L–A–S–H gels was mainly in Q4 sites and to a lesser extent in Q3 sites (four-fold coordination with no Si–O–Al bonds). The results thus indicate that silica-rich and aluminium-rich domains formed in these gels.
The current understanding of the carbonation and the prediction of the carbonation rate of alkali-activated concretes is complicated inter alia by the wide range of binder chemistries used and testing conditions adopted. To overcome some of the limitations of individual studies and to identify general correlations between mix design parameters and carbonation resistance, the RILEM TC 281-CCC ‘Carbonation of Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials’ Working Group 6 compiled and analysed carbonation data for alkali-activated concretes and mortars from the literature. For comparison purposes, data for blended Portland cement-based concretes with a high percentage of SCMs (≥ 66% of the binder) were also included in the database. The analysis indicates that water/CaO ratio and water/binder ratio exert an influence on the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes; however, these parameters are not good indicators of the carbonation resistance when considered individually. A better indicator of the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes under conditions approximating natural carbonation appears to be their water/(CaO + MgOeq + Na2Oeq + K2Oeq) ratio, where the subscript ‘eq’ indicates an equivalent amount based on molar masses. Nevertheless, this ratio can serve as approximate indicator at best, as other parameters also affect the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes. In addition, the analysis of the database points to peculiarities of accelerated tests using elevated CO2 concentrations for low-Ca alkali-activated concretes, indicating that even at the relatively modest concentration of 1% CO2, accelerated testing may lead to inaccurate predictions of the carbonation resistance under natural exposure conditions.
The oxidation of sulfur in aqueous solutions is an important process in several geochemical and industrial contexts. In concrete technology, it is particularly relevant for the protection of steel reinforcement in slag cement-based concretes, as the presence of sulfides affects the passivation of the steel and corrosion initiation in the presence of chlorides. However, the knowledge about the kinetics of sulfide oxidation in alkaline solutions, such as concrete pore solutions, is incomplete. To address this issue, we prepared solutions with 0.80 M NaOH, and nominally 10, 100 and 350 mM HS−, respectively, and followed the evolution of the sulfur species during bubbling with oxygen-containing gas (concentration 100% or 22%) using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the sulfur K-edge. Polysulfide, thiosulfate, sulfite and sulfate were identified and quantified via linear combination fitting of the spectra, using previously measured standards. A preliminary analysis of the results shows that the initial rate constant of sulfide oxidation depends strongly on the HS− concentration, while it less strongly depending on the oxygen concentration, in line with previous results for lower pH values. Approaches to fit the data to obtain the rate constants of all relevant reactions will be discussed.
Cementitious materials are frequently applied in environments in which they are exposed to acid attack, e.g., in sewer systems, biogas plants, and agricultural/food-related industries. Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have repeatedly been shown to exhibit a remarkably high resistance against attack by organic and inorganic acids and, thus, are promising candidates for the construction and the repair of acid-exposed structures. However, the reaction mechanisms and processes affecting the acid resistance of AAMs have just recently begun to be understood in more detail. The present contribution synthesises these advances and outlines potentially fruitful avenues of research. The interaction between AAMs and acids proceeds in a multistep process wherein different aspects of deterioration extend to different depths, complicating the overall determination of acid resistance. Partly due to this indistinct definition of the ‘depth of corrosion’, the effects of the composition of AAMs on their acid resistance cannot be unambiguously identified to date. Important parallels exist between the deterioration of low-Ca AAMs and the weathering/corrosion of minerals and glasses (dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism). Additional research requirements relate to the deterioration mechanism of high-Ca AAMs; how the character of the corroded layer influences the rate of deterioration; the effects of shrinkage and the bond between AAMs and substrates.
The current understanding of the carbonation of alkali-activated concretes is ham-pered inter alia by the wide range of binder chemistries used. To overcome some of the limitations of individual studies and to identify general correlations between their mix design parameters and carbonation resistance, the RILEM TC 281-CCC working group 6 compiled carbonation data for alkali-activated concretes and mortars from the literature. For comparison purposes, data for blended Portland cement-based concretes with a high percentage of SCMs (≥ 66 % of the binder) were also included in the database. A preliminary analysis of the database indicates that w/CaO ratio and w/b ratio exert an influence on the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes but, contrary to what has been reported for concretes based on (blended) Portland cements, these are not good indicators of their carbonation resistance when considered individually. A better indicator of the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes under conditions approxi-mating natural carbonation appears to be their w/(CaO + Na2O + K2O) ratio. Furthermore, the analysis points to significant shortcomings of tests at elevated CO2 concentrations for low-Ca alkali-activated concretes, indicating that even at a concentration of 1 % CO2, the outcomes may lead to inaccurate predictions of the carbonation coefficient under natural exposure conditions.
Slags from the nonferrous metals industry have great potential to be used as feedstocks for the production of alkali-activated materials. Until now, however, only very limited information has been available about the structural characteristics of these materials. In the work presented herein, synthetic slags in the CaO–FeOx–SiO2 system, representing typical compositions of Fe-rich slags, and inorganic polymers (IPs) produced from the synthetic slags by activation with alkali Silicate solutions have been studied by means of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the Fe K-edge. The iron in the slags was largely Fe2+, with an average coordination number of approximately 5 for the iron in the amorphous fraction. The increase in average oxidation number after alkali-activation was conceptualized as the consequence of slag dissolution and IP precipitation, and employed to calculate the degrees of reaction of the slags. The degree of reaction of the slags increased with increasing amorphous fraction. The iron in the IPs had an average coordination number of approximately 5; thus, IPs produced from the Fe-rich slags studied here are not Fe-analogs of aluminosilicate geopolymers, but differ significantly in terms of structure from the latter.
Alkali-activated slag materials are known for their high Chloride penetration resistance. This makes them potentially applicable as repair systems for damaged steel-reinforced concrete structures, which are exposed to chloride attack. For this purpose, the influence of the activator composition, i.e. the SiO2 and Na2O concentration of the alkaline solution on a) the compressive strength, b) shrinkage and mass change and c) the resistance against chloride penetration of four alkali-activated slag mortars (AASM) were studied. An ordinary Portland cement-based mortar was used as the reference sample. Increasing SiO2 and Na2O concentrations increased the strength, shrinkage and mass loss of the AASMs. The resistance of the mortars against chloride penetration was evaluated using the non-steady-state migration coefficient Dnssm obtained from NT BUILD 492. The results indicate that the Dnssm is related to differences in the pore solution of the AASMs rather than to differences in their microstructure. An upcoming study of the authors is going to evaluate this hypothesis by the accelerated chloride penetration (diffusion) test.
Mixing and curing of geopolymers and related alkali-activated materials without storage and handling of highly alkaline solutions possesses advantages regarding safety and economic viability; one possible approach is to produce these materials from solid silica feedstocks and solid sodium aluminate, and subsequent mixing with water. We present a comparison between geopolymers and geopolymer-zeolite composites synthesized by this route from different silica feedstocks (by-product silica from chlorosilane production, microsilica, rice husk ash) and with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios, using results from XRD, NMR, SEM, thermal analysis, mechanical and acid resistance testing. The use of rice husk ash favors formation of a fully amorphous geopolymer with high strength. Utilization of the other silica feedstocks leads to formation of geopolymer-zeolite composites, the amount and kind of zeolites depending on the feedstock and the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. These composites show beneficial dehydration behavior, viz. no distinct dehydration step of thermal strain, with the phase assemblage after heating to 1000 °C controlled by the starting composition. Mortars produced from both, the geopolymers as well as the compo¬sites, exhibit high resistance to sulfuric acid attack, making them promising materials for the construction and the repair of industrial and sewer structures.
One-part alkali-activated (geopolymer) mortars based on three different silica-rich starting materials and sodium aluminate, with and without ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) addition, were tested regarding sulfuric acid resistance according to DIN 19573:2016-03 (70 days at pH = 1). Corresponding pastes were characterized by XRD, SEM, chemical analysis, 29Si MAS NMR and 1H-29Si CPMAS NMR after water storage and after acid exposure. The mortars exhibited a high resistance against sulfuric acid attack, with the best ones conforming to the requirements of DIN 19573:2016-03. The analytical results showed that this was due to precipitation of silica gel at the acid-mortar interface, which formed a mechanically stable layer that protected the subjacent mortar and thus inhibited further degradation. The addition of GGBFS decreased the acid resistance via formation of expansive calcium sulfate phases.
One-part geopolymers (OPGs) are a sort of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) which production avoids the use of highly-alkaline activator-solutions and contributes to a better acceptance of alternative mineral binders in terms of safety-related and economic aspects. In the present contribution OPGs were synthesized by blending silica sources (two industrial silicas and two biogenic silicas) with sodium aluminate and only water must be added to initiate the hardening, i.e. mixing is performed in the same way as for conventional Portland cements. The OPGs were characterized by XRD, and SEM and the degrees of reaction of the silicas were determined by a chemical dissolution method.
The industrial silicas led to the formation of geopolymer-zeolite composites, that contained, besides geopolymeric gel, crystalline tectosilicates (e.g. zeolite A and hydrosodalite) and depending on the starting composition also unreacted silica. The biogenic silicas provided a higher reactivity and avoided the formation of crystallite by-products. The differences in the microstructures caused differences in the mechanical strength of the specimens.
The treatment of the OPG composites at moderate elevated temperatures revealed promising behavior on thermal dehydration in terms of shrinkage and residual strength up to 700 °C. Above 700 °C sintering and partial melting occurred, and new phase formation commenced. After exposure to 1000 °C the specimens appeared virtually amorphous or formed stuffed silica structures of nepheline- or carnegieite-type type.
The investigations of the OPG based mortars on their resistance against sulfuric acid in accordance with DIN 19573 (Appendix A) revealed very high residual strengths up to 78 % after treatment with H2SO4 (pH 1) for 70d. A mechanism of dissolution of the primary aluminosilicate reaction products of the pastes and the precipitation of a silica gel that protects the remaining aluminosilicates and decelerates further corrosion was found to be the main reason for the good performance under acidic conditions. The addition of CaO-containing feedstocks enhanced hardening, but at a certain content the resistance against sulfuric acid decreased, due to the formation of gypsum on exposure to sulfate.
In addition, the mortars exhibited excellent shrinkage behavior as well as good bond to concrete substrates with pull-off strength up to > 3 MPa. The workability of the fresh mortars provided very good manual applicability; automatic applications such as sprayed and spun mortars will require further optimization regarding rheological properties. In summary, the studied OPG are promising materials for the construction and the repair of concrete structures, such as sewers, that are affected by biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion.
Intumescent coatings for fire protection offer advantages over (non-intumescent) cementitious coatings and boards regarding speed of construction, architectural aesthetics, sometimes costs, and other features. However, conventional organic intumescent coatings as well as soluble silicate (waterglass) coatings form foams with low mechanical stability, and the latter coatings generally suffer from low resistance against humidity. Therefore, the search for novel intumescent coatings for more demanding conditions (e.g., abrasive environments) is a necessity in the context of steadily increasing requirements of society and industry.
In this contribution, we present results on intumescent aluminosilicate coatings for fire protection that form foams with significantly increased mechanical strength. Two base formulations, a metakaolin/silica-based mix, adapted from Krivenko et al., and a silica/corundum-based mix, developed at Curtin University, as well as formulations modified with additives (Al(OH)3, Mg(OH)2, B2O3, Na2B4O7), were applied to steel plates (75 mm × 75 mm) and exposed to simulated fire conditions (fire curve according to ISO 834-1:1999). Temperature-time curves were recorded to assess the degree at which the coatings insulated the substrate. In addition, XRD, TG, oscillatory rheometry, and SEM were employed to characterise the coatings.
The coatings were observed to partly expand during hardening due to H2 formation. When the hardened coatings were exposed to elevated temperatures they intumesced as expected, with the degree and nature of expansion dependent on the formulation. Oscillatory rheometry provided insights into the intumescent processes in an apparently brittle material. It revealed that the hardened aluminosilicate coatings became viscous (loss factor > 1) at 75–225 °C, in the temperature range of major water release, as opposed to a “standard” metakaolin-based geopolymer, which continued to behave as a solid. This explains the intumes¬cent behavior of the coatings, i.e. further expansion and foam formation. Microstructural analysis confirmed pore expansion and coalescence; XRD showed that the phases formed after heating (max. temperature ~840 °C) were of ceramic-type.
The fire protection (defined here as the time for the steel substrate to reach the critical temperature of 500 °C) depended mainly on the thick¬ness of the fully expanded coating, i.e. after intumescence. An alumino¬silicate coating free of additives with an original thickness of 12 mm was able to protect the steel for >30 min. The addition of 10 % anhydrous borax (Na2B4O7) caused a significant improvement, such that an original coating thickness of only 6 mm was sufficient to protect the steel for ~30 min. This was caused by the formation of sodium metaborate dihydrate (NaB(OH)4) in the coating that led to a significantly extended dehydration plateau in the temperature-time curve at ~100 °C during the fire exposure.
While calcined clays in general have been credited with a great potential to mitigate CO2 emissions related to cement production and consumption, calcined brick clays are currently understudied in this regard. In the present work, two brick clays, a low-grade kaolinitic clay, and a mixed clay composed of 50% brick clay and 50% low-grade kaolinitic clay were studied regarding transformations on calcination, and strength and durability performance as well as pore structure of mortars made with the blended cements. All calcined clays exhibited pozzolanic reactivity, with the performance of the brick clays inferior to the low-grade kaolinitic clay. However, the mixed clay performed very similar to the low-grade kaolinitic clay, which points to a viable option for optimal use of brick clays in cementitious systems. The carbonation resistance of the blended cement mortars was generally worse than that of the plain Portland cement mortar, as expected, but the former exhibited a significantly improved chloride penetration resistance. The latter improvement was due to pore structure refinement in the blended cement mortars, compared to the Portland cement mortar.
Materials with a high acid resistance are required in different important infrastructures. Examples include repair systems for sewer structures, where biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion is the major degradation mechanism. Low-calcium alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have been repeatedly observed to exhibit high acid resistance. However, the reasons for the high acid resistance of these materials were not fully under¬stood until recently, and the use of highly alkaline activator solutions to produce AAMs appears to hamper their commercial uptake. These issues have been tackled by characterising one-part AAMs and studying their alteration when exposed to sulfuric acid.
One-part AAMs were synthesized by mixing blends of solid silica and sodium aluminate with water, and subsequent curing at 60–80 °C. Acid resistance testing was performed according to DIN 19573, i.e. exposure to sulfuric acid at pH = 1 for 70 days. Characterisation of the cured and the acid-exposed materials was done by XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM as well as 29Si, 27Al and 1H MAS NMR spectroscopy, including cross-polarisation and double-resonance methods.
Materials synthesized from industrial silicas were gel-zeolite composites, containing a substantial amount of unreacted ‘excess’ silica, while materials synthesized from rice husk ash were fully amorphous, containing ‘excess’ hydrous alumina. The sulfuric acid resistance of mortars based on these binders conformed to the requirements of DIN 19573 for sewer repair applications. The high acid resistance was caused by precipitation of silica gel at the mortar–solution interface, inhibiting further degradation. The presence of alumina gel may inhibit bacterial activity, potentially further improving performance in sewer environments.
The phase assemblage of silica/sodium aluminate-based one-part AAMs can be adjusted via choice of the silica starting material. Properly designed materials exhibit excellent acid resistance, caused by precipi¬tation of silica gel which protects subjacent regions, and they may also inhibit bacterial activity.
Alkali-activated materials are ideal for the repair of concrete structures in harsh environmental conditions due to their high durability in chemically aggressive environments. However, slag-based mortars, in particular, are prone to shrinkage and associated cracks. In this respect, the application of steel fibres is one solution to reduce the formation of shrinkage induced cracks and to improve post cracking behaviour of these mortars. This study investigated the influence of two different types of steel fibres on the tensile properties of two alkali-activated mortars. Direct tensile tests and single fibre pull-outs were performed to analyse the determining failure modes both on macro and micro scale. Mechanical testing was accompanied by non-destructive testing methods such as digital image correlation and acoustic emission for a detailed analysis of the fracture process.
Alkali-activated materials have been repeatedly reported to exhibit high acid resistance, but no generally accepted hypothesis regarding the underlying mechanisms has emerged yet. To contribute to this issue, K-waterglass-activated metakaolin specimens, with and without the addition of CuSO4·5H2O in the starting mix, were exposed to either a chemically aggressive sewer environment (mortars) or sulfuric acid (pastes). The mode of copper incorporation in the materials and the formation of copper phases in the corroded layers were studied by XANES at the Cu K-edge, and 29Si, 27Al and 1H MAS NMR was employed to understand the processes during acid attack. Copper was found as a spertiniite-like phase in the as-cured materials, while in the deterioration layers of the pastes it was present as copper sulfate. In the corroded regions of the mortars, unequivocal identification of Cu phases was not possible, but the results were reconcilable with the presence of copper carbonate hydroxide. The solid-state NMR results revealed virtually complete dissolution of the K-A-S-H gel and the formation of silica gel, interpreted to be a central mechanism determining the acid resistance. No significant differences between the microstructural alterations of the pastes with and without Cu addition on (chemical) sulfuric acid attack were observed.
Two brick clays (rich in 2:1 clay minerals) and a low-grade kaolinitic clay were studied regarding their transformations during calcination and their performance in blended cement mortars. The mortars with calcined clays exhibited decreased workability (slump flow), but this effect could be mitigated by employment of a conventional superplasticizer; however, compressive strength of the hardened mortar was lowered in some cases. While the kaolinitic clay generally yielded the highest strength, the performance of a brick clay could be increased by grinding to higher fineness and by mixing it with the kaolinitic clay.
Additive manufacturing of alkali-activated materials currently attracts a lot of attention, because of the possibility to produce customized high-performance elements for a range of applications, potentially being more resource-efficient than conventionally produced parts. Here, we describe a new additive manufacturing process for alkali-activated materials that is based on selective laser-heating of lithium aluminate/microsilica slurries. The new process-material combination allows to manufacture elements with complex geometries at high building rates and high accuracy. The process is versatile and transferrable to structures of sizes differing by orders of magnitude. The mechanical strength of the obtained materials was in the range of values reported for conventional metakaolin-based geopolymers, and superior to what has been hitherto reported for alkali-activated materials produced by additive manufacturing. This mechanical performance was obtained despite the fact that the degree of reaction of the lithium aluminate and the microsilica was low, suggesting that significant reactions took place only at the surface of the microsilica particles.
Einkomponentige alkaliaktivierte Bindemittel (AAB), d. h. AAB, bei denen der Aktivator als Feststoff im Bindemittel vorliegt, weisen Vorteile hinsichtlich der praktischen Anwendung im Bauwesen gegenüber konventionellen AAB auf. Einkomponentige AAB lassen sich als Gemische aus reaktiver Silica und Natriumaluminat herstellen, wobei die Reaktionsprodukte von der eingesetzten Silica und den Verhältnissen Na2O/Al2O3/SiO2/H2O abhängen: Während Mikrosilica und ähnliche Reststoffe zu zeolithreichen Produkten führen, erhält man aus Reisschalenasche vollständig amorphe Gele (sog. «Geopolymere »). Mörtel auf Basis solcher Bindemittel entsprechen den Anforderungen von DIN 19573:2016-03 hinsichtlich des Widerstands gegen Schwefelsäureangriff (Prüfung bei pH = 1 für 70 d) und sind damit potentiell als Reparatursysteme für Abwasserinfrastruktur geeignet. Untersuchungen mittels 29Si-MAS-NMR und 1H-29Si-Kreuzpolarisations(CP)-MAS-NMR sowie REM-Aufnahmen von erhärteten und dem Schwefelsäureangriff ausgesetzten AAB zeigen, dass der hohe Säurewiderstand v. a. auf die Fällung von Silicagel an der Grenzfläche Mörtel/Säure zurückzuführen ist, wodurch der Korrosionsfortschritt in darunterliegenden Schichten verlangsamt wird.
Einkomponentige alkaliaktivierte Bindemittel (AAB), d. h. AAB, bei denen der Aktivator als Feststoff im Bindemittel vorliegt, weisen Vorteile hinsichtlich der praktischen Anwendung im Bauwesen gegenüber konventionellen AAB auf. Einkomponentige AAB lassen sich als Gemische aus reaktiver Silica und Natriumaluminat herstellen, wobei die Reaktionsprodukte von der eingesetzten Silica und den Verhältnissen Na2O/Al2O3/SiO2/H2O abhängen: Während Mikrosilica und ähnliche Reststoffe zu zeolithreichen Produkten führen, erhält man aus Reisschalenasche vollständig amorphe Gele (sog. «Geopolymere»). Mörtel auf Basis solcher Bindemittel entsprechen den Anforderungen von DIN 19573:2016-03 hinsichtlich des Widerstands gegen Schwefelsäureangriff (Prüfung bei pH = 1 für 70 d) und sind damit potentiell als Reparatursysteme für Abwasserinfrastruktur geeignet. Untersuchungen mittels 29Si-MAS-NMR und 1H-29Si-Kreuzpolarisations(CP)-MAS-NMR sowie REM-Aufnahmen von erhärteten und dem Schwefelsäureangriff ausgesetzten AAB zeigen, dass der hohe Säurewiderstand v. a. auf die Fällung von Silicagel an der Grenzfläche Mörtel/Säure zurückzuführen ist, wodurch der Korrosionsfortschritt in darunterliegenden Schichten verlangsamt wird.
Many standardised durability testing methods have been developed for Portland cement-based concretes, but require validation to determine whether they are also applicable to alkali-activated materials. To address this question, RILEM TC 247-DTA ‘Durability Testing of Alkali-Activated Materials’ carried out round robin testing of carbonation and chloride penetration test methods, applied to five different alkali-activated concretes based on fly ash, blast furnace slag or metakaolin. The methods appeared overall to demonstrate an intrinsic precision comparable to their precision when applied to conventional concretes. The ranking of test outcomes for pairs of concretes of similar binder chemistry was satisfactory, but rankings were not always reliable when comparing alkali-activated concretes based on different precursors. Accelerated carbonation testing gave similar results for fly ash-based and blast furnace slag-based alkali-activated concretes, whereas natural carbonation testing did not. Carbonation of concrete specimens was observed to have occurred already during curing, which has implications for extrapolation of carbonation testing results to longer service life periods. Accelerated chloride penetration testing according to NT BUILD 443 ranked the tested concretes consistently, while this was not the case for the rapid chloride migration test. Both of these chloride penetration testing methods exhibited comparatively low precision when applied to blast furnace slag-based concretes which are more resistant to chloride ingress than the other materials tested.
Chloride contents at the steel–mortar interface that initiate steel corrosion were determined for carbon steel in alkali‐activated fly ash mortar for three different exposure conditions: exposure to 1 M NaCl solution; leaching in deionized water and then exposure to 1 M NaCl solution; and leaching in deionized water, aging in air at 20°C and natural CO2 concentration, and then exposure to 1 M NaCl solution. For comparison, a Portland cement mortar, exposed to 1 M NaCl solution, was studied. The median values of the corrosion‐initiating chloride contents (average over the full length of the rebar) in the alkali‐activated fly ash mortar varied between 0.35 and 1.05 wt% Cl with respect to binder, consistently lower than what was obtained for the Portland cement mortar, but with no clear trend regarding the exposure conditions. For most of the alkali‐activated fly ash mortar specimens, preferential corrosion at the connection between the working electrode and the external measurement setup was observed, while preferential corrosion did not occur for the Portland cement mortar. Scanning electron microscopy and auxiliary experiments in synthetic solutions indicated that this behavior was caused by inhomogeneities at the steel–mortar interface in the alkali‐activated mortar, likely due to its peculiar rheological properties in the fresh state.
The aim of RILEM TC 247-DTA ‘Durability Testing of Alkali-Activated Materials’ is to identify and validate methodologies for testing the durability of alkali-activated concretes. To underpin the durability testing work of this committee, five alkali-activated concrete mixes were developed based on blast furnace slag, fly ash, and flash-calcined metakaolin. The concretes were designed with different intended performance levels, aiming to assess the capability of test methods to discriminate between concretes on this basis. A total of fifteen laboratories worldwide participated in this round robin test programme, where all concretes were produced with the same mix designs, from single-source aluminosilicate precursors and locally available aggregates. This paper reports the mix designs tested, and the compressive strength results obtained, including critical insight into reasons for the observed variability in strength within and between laboratories.
The use of calcined clays as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has been identified as a viable option to decrease the CO2 emissions related to cement production. However, while extensive data is available about kaolinitic clays in this context, other clays such as illitic clays appear to be under-studied. Therefore, in the present study, two illitic clays were compared to two low-grade kaolinitic clays in terms of transformations in the calcination temperature range 650–900 °C, and performance of the calcined clays in blended cement pastes as measured by strength evolution, heat release, hydrated phase formation and portlandite consumption. The illitic clays required a higher calcination temperature for complete dehydroxylation of their illite than what is necessary for dehydroxylation of kaolinite. These higher calcination temperatures also led to particle sintering, significantly decreasing the specific surface area of the illitic clays, particularly for the clay with the higher Fe2O3 content. Nevertheless, while the kaolinitic clays generally exhibited the best performance as SCM, the illitic clay with lower Fe2O3 content performed similar to the kaolinitic clays when calcined at optimum temperature and applied at a moderate substitution rate. These findings demonstrate that several different clays have the potential to be used as SCM and indicate possible routes to identify suitable deposits for this purpose.
The RILEM technical committee TC 247-DTA ‘Durability Testing of Alkali-Activated Materials’ conducted a round robin testing programme to determine the validity of various durability testing methods, originally developed for Portland cement based-concretes, for the assessment of the durability of alkali-activated concretes. The outcomes of the round robin tests evaluating sulfate resistance, alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and freeze–thaw resistance are presented in this contribution. Five different alkali-activated concretes, based on ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, or metakaolin were investigated. The extent of sulfate damage to concretes based on slag or fly ash seems to be limited when exposed to an Na2SO4 solution. The mixture based on metakaolin showed an excessive, very early expansion, followed by a dimensionally stable period, which cannot be explained at present. In the slag-based concretes, MgSO4 caused more expansion and visual damage than Na2SO4; however, the expansion limits defined in the respective standards were not exceeded. Both the ASTM C1293 and RILEM AAR-3.1 test methods for the determination of ASR expansion appear to give essentially reliable identification of expansion caused by highly reactive aggregates. Alkali-activated materials in combination with an unreactive or potentially expansive aggregate were in no case seen to cause larger expansions; only the aggregates of known very high reactivity were seen to be problematic. The results of freeze–thaw testing (with/without deicing salts) of alkali-activated concretes suggest an important influence of the curing conditions and experimental conditions on the test outcomes, which need to be understood before the tests can be reliably applied and interpreted.
Additive manufacturing (AM) of alkali-activated materials is a promising method for producing ceramic precursors, construction elements and other parts. A recently introduced AM process is laser-induced slip casting of lithium aluminate/microsilica slurries, which yields parts with excellent mechanical strengths. To clarify the underlying mechanisms, μ-Raman spectroscopy was applied to parts produced by the process, and the dissolution and hydration of lithium aluminate was studied inter alia using conventional and in-situ X-ray diffraction. The results show that significant dissolution of lithium aluminate occurs, particularly at increased temperatures during laser interaction, which leads to an increase of pH and precipitation of an akopovaite-like Li-Al-CO3 layered double hydroxide. The increase of the pH is likely to induce dissolution of the microsilica and possibly formation of a hydrous lithium aluminosilicate gel. These observations explain the strength evolution of the studied parts and can also aid the development and improvement of related AM methods.
In this study, a multi-proxy approach combining 29Si, 27Al and 1H MAS-NMR, FEG-EPMA, XANES at the Cu K-edge and XRD analytics with hydrochemical tools such as ICP-OES analyses, oxygen-isotope signatures, and thermodynamic modelling was applied to K-silicate-activated metakaolin specimens - with and without CuSO4·5H2O addition - exposed to sulfuric acid at pH = 2 for 35 days. The results revealed a multistage deterioration mechanism governed by (i) acid diffusion, (ii) leaching of K-A-S-H, (iii) microstructural damage related to precipitation of expansive (K,Ca,Al)-sulfate-hydrate phases (iv) complete dissolution of the K-A-S-H framework, (v) and formation of silica gel in the outermost corroded regions. Copper ions were mainly located in layered spertiniite-chrysocolla-like phases in the as-cured materials. The results demonstrate an overall negative effect of Cu addition on chemical material durability, implying that the reported higher durability of Cu-doped AAM in biocorrosion environments can be best explained by bacteriostatic effects.
Der kritische, Korrosion auslösende Chloridgehalt für die Beurteilung der Korrosions-beständigkeit von Betonstahl in Geopolymerbetonen ist von großer Bedeutung für die Dauerhaftigkeitsprognose für bewehrte Elemente aus solchen Materialien. Es sind kaum experimentelle Daten in der Fachliteratur vorhanden und die vorliegenden Werte unterscheiden sich zwischen den Studien erheblich. In diesem Projekt wurde der kritische, Korrosion auslösende Chloridgehalt für Betonstahl (BSt 500) in flugaschebasierten (Ca-armen) Geopolymermörtel für verschiedene Beaufschlagungskombinationen bestimmt: Chloridbeaufschlagung mit 1 M NaCl-Lösung; Auslaugen in entionisiertem Wasser und anschließende Chloridbeaufschlagung im 1 M NaCl-Lösung; Auslaugen in entionisiertem Wasser, Carbonatisierung in Luft bei 20 °C und natürlicher CO2 Konzentration und anschließende Chloridbeaufschlagung mit 1 M NaCl-Lösung. Für Referenz-Zwecke wurde zusätzlich der Korrosion auslösende Chloridgehalt für eine Portland-Zement Mischung bei Auslagerung in 1 M NaCl-Lösung bestimmt.
Properties of alkali-activated mortars with salt aggregate for sealing structures in evaporite rock
(2021)
Concrete structures for sealing of tunnels in the host rock are an essential part of systems for nuclear waste storage. However, concretes based on blended cements or magnesium oxychloride cements, which are commonly considered for this application, can deteriorate severely due to a significant heat of hydration and associated deformation and cracking. Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) offer a potential solution to this problem because of their low heat release during hardening. To explore their suitability for the construction of sealing structures in evaporite rock, various AAMs with salt aggregate were studied regarding fresh properties, heat release, mechanical properties and microstructure. The heat of reaction of the AAMs was up to 55% lower than that of a blended cement designed for sealing structures, indicating significant benefits for the intended application. Other relevant properties such as mechanical strength and permeability depended strongly on the mix-design of the AAMs and curing conditions.
Mixing and curing of geopolymers and related alkali-activated materials without storage and handling of highly alkaline solutions possesses advantages regarding safety and economic viability. One possible approach is to produce these materials from solid silica feedstocks and solid sodium aluminate, and subsequent mixing with water. We present a comparison between geopolymers and aluminosilicate gel-zeolite composites synthesized by this route from different silica feedstocks (by-product silica from chlorosilane production, microsilica, rice husk ash) and with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios, using results from XRD, NMR, SEM, thermal analysis, mechanical and acid resistance testing. The use of rice husk ash favors formation of a fully amorphous geopolymer with high strength. Utilization of the other silica feedstocks leads to formation of aluminosilicate gel-zeolite composites, the amount and kind of zeolites depending on the feedstock and the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. These composites show beneficial dehydration behavior, viz. no distinct dehydration step of thermal strain, with the phase assemblage after heating to 1000°C controlled by the starting composition. Mortars produced from both, the geopolymers as well as the composites, exhibit high resistance to sulfuric acid attack, making them promising materials for the construction and the repair of industrial and sewer structures.
Der Einsatz von calcinierten Tonen als Zementhauptbestandteil ist ein vielversprechender Weg, die mit der Zementherstellung und -verwendung verbundenen CO2-Emissionen zu senken. Im Vortrag werden die Randbedingungen hierfür sowie Ergebnisse eines aktuellen Vorhabens zur Calcinierung von illitreichen Tonen (Ziegeltonen) und anderen Tonen vorgestellt.
Alkali-activated fly ash mortars were studied with regard to durability-relevant transport coefficients and the electrochemical behaviour of embedded carbon steel bars on exposure of the mortars to leaching, carbonation and chloride penetration environments. The transport coefficients differed considerably between different formulations, being lowest for a mortar with BFS addition, but still acceptable for one of the purely fly ash-based mortars. Leaching over a period of ~300 days in de-ionized water did not lead to observable corrosion of the embedded steel, as shown by the electrochemical data and visual inspection of the steel. Exposure to 100 % CO2 atmosphere caused steel depassivation within approx. two weeks; in addition, indications of a deterioration of the mortar were observed. The results are discussed in the context of the different reaction products expected in high- and low-Ca alkali-activated binders, and the alterations caused by leaching and carbonation.
The influence of starting materials and synthesis route on the properties and the structure of cementitious sodium aluminosilicate gels is not fully understood, partly due their amorphous nature and the fact that they often contain residual reactants, which can make the results of single-pulse NMR spectroscopy applied to these materials difficult to interpret or ambiguous. To overcome some of these limitations, 29Si{27Al} TRAPDOR NMR as well as 27Al{29Si} and 27Al{1H} REDOR NMR spectroscopy were applied to materials synthesized by the one-part alkali-activation route from three different amorphous silica starting materials, including rice husk ash. The latter led to formation of a fully amorphous sodium aluminosilicate gel (geopolymer), while the materials produced from the other silicas contained amorphous phase and crystalline zeolites. Application of the double-resonance NMR methods allowed to identify hydrous alumina gel domains in the rice husk ash-based material as well as significantly differing amounts of residual silica in the three cured materials. Four-coordinated Al existed not only in the aluminosilicate gel framework but also in a water-rich chemical environment with only a small amount of Si in proximity, likely in the alumina gel or possibly present as extra-framework Al in the aluminosilicate gel. The results demonstrate how the employment of different silica starting materials determines the phase assemblage of one-part alkali-activated materials, which in turn influences their engineering properties such as the resistance against chemically/biologically aggressive media.
The present study aims to investigate the use of geopolymer mortars as passive fire protection system for steel structures. Coal fly ashes were used as aluminosilicate source and perlite was employed as aggregate to obtain a lightweight system. In addition, a geopolymer mortar containing quartz aggregate was produced for comparison. The geopolymer mortars were applied on stainless steel plates and exposed to both, cellulosic and hydrocarbon standard fire curves, according to ISO 834-1 and EN 1363-2, respectively. Acoustic emission measurements were conducted to analyze cracking phenomena during the high temperature exposure. The resulting temperature-time curves showed that the investigated system is effective in retarding the temperature rise of the steel plates. When the cellulosic fire curve was applied, a 20 mm [0.79 in.] thick layer of lightweight geopolymer mortar protected the steel substrate from reaching the critical temperature of 500 °C [932 °F] for at least 30 minutes, avoiding the rapid decrease of its mechanical properties and thus representing an important safety measure against accidental fires. No spalling phenomena on heating were detected; however, significant cracking was observed on cooling.
This study aims at investigating the use of coal fly ash-based alkali activated mortars as passive fire protection system for steel structures. These systems are used to slow down the temperature rise of the steel substrate in case of fire. In addition, the protective system should guarantee the ability to prevent and/or mitigate steel corrosion phenomena. The behavior of a light-weight mortar was compared to that of a normal-weight mortar. Density and porosity were measured to better characterize the physical properties of the mortars. The degree of protection in case of fire was assessed by performing medium-scale fire tests. Acoustic emission measurements were conducted to analyze cracking phenomena during the high temperature exposure. The corrosion process was evaluated using an electrochemical approach in order to monitor the durability of the developed material. Preliminary results show that a 20 mm-thick layer of light-weight mortar is able to protect the steel substrate from reaching the critical temperature of 500 °C for 38 minutes in case of cellulosic fire. In addition, alkali activated mortars provide protection for carbon steel in presence of aggressive environment (i.e. presence of chlorides). The corrosion resistance is strictly related to the physical properties of the developed mortars.
Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is one of the major deterioration mechanisms limiting the service life of reinforced concrete structures. While for conventional (Portland cement-based) concretes a great amount of experience exists in this regard, the factors that determine the onset of reinforcement corrosion in alkali-activated materials are incompletely understood yet. One aspect of corrosion protection is leaching and the accompanying changes of the concrete pore solution. In the present study, alkali-activated fly ash mortars with embedded carbon steel rebars were exposed to de-ionised water for periods up to 330 days, and the electrochemical response of the steel (free corrosion potential, polarisation resistance), the alteration of the mortar (ohmic resistance, mechanical strength, pore size distribution) as well as the pore solution composition were monitored. Although substantial alkali leaching was observed, the pH of the pore solution remained at values sufficient to protect the embedded steel from depassivation. The mortar did not exhibit indications of significant deterioration. Thus, the present results suggest that leaching is not critical for protection of steel reinforcement in alkali-activated fly ash mortars and concretes.
The production of Portland cement causes a substantial environmental impact, since the calcination of limestone results in high emissions of carbon dioxide. The use of supplementary cementitious materials such as calcined clays as partial replacement for Portland cement offers a solution to limit this environmental impact. This paper investigates four clays from deposits in central Germany with the aim of obtaining pozzolans for the production of Portland-pozzolana cement. The results obtained show that the calcined clays possess pozzolanic properties, which differ depending on calcination temperature and the relative amounts of Kaolinite and 2:1 clay minerals.
The production of Portland cement causes a substantial environmental impact, since the calcination of limestone results in high emissions of carbon dioxide. The use of supplementary cementitious materials such as calcined clays as partial replacement for Portland cement offers a solution to limit this environmental impact. This paper investigates four clays from deposits in central Germany with the aim of obtaining pozzolans for the production of Portland-pozzolana cement. The results obtained show that the calcined clays possess pozzolanic proper¬ties, which differ depending on calcination temperature and the relative amounts of kaolinite and 2:1 clay minerals.
Mortars for application on concrete, e.g. repair mortars or protective coatings, need to have a durable bond to the substrate. This bond is determined by the adhesion between the two materials and by the differential deformations of the mortar and the substrate. In the present contribution, the hygric deformations (shrinkage/expansion) of novel one-part alkali-activated mortars and their bond to concrete substrates are studied. Shrinkage of the mortars was studied at 50 % r.H., while expansion was studied on mortars stored over an open water surface (> 99% r.H.). The bond behaviour was studied by pull-off tests according to DIN EN 1542 and by optical microscopy.
The alkali-activated mortars exhibit hygric deformations much lower than the deformations of an established, commercial mortar for sewer maintenance that was tested as reference in parallel with the alkali-activated mortars. The bond behaviour of the alkali-activated mortars depends strongly on their mix-design and curing. Optical microscopy showed that in the mortars with lower bond strength, cracks developed in the mortar during curing. Mortars with appropriate mix-design and curing did not exhibit cracking, and their pull-off strength (up to > 3 MPa) conformed to the requirements of relevant standards.
Mortars for application on concrete, e.g. repair mortars or protective coatings, need to have a durable bond to the substrate. This bond is determined by the adhesion between the two materials and by the differential deformations of the mortar and the substrate. In the present contribution, the hygric deformations (shrinkage/expansion) of novel one-part alkali-activated mortars and their bond to concrete substrates are studied. Shrinkage of the mortars was studied at 50 % r.H., while expansion was studied on mortars stored over an open water surface (> 99% r.H.). The bond behaviour was studied by pull-off tests according to DIN EN 1542 and by optical microscopy.
The alkali-activated mortars exhibit hygric deformations much lower than the deformations of an established, commercial mortar for sewer maintenance that was tested as reference in parallel with the alkali-activated mortars. The bond behaviour of the alkali-activated mortars depends strongly on their mix-design and curing. Optical microscopy showed that in the
mortars with lower bond strength, cracks developed in the mortar during curing. Mortars with appropriate mix-design and curing did not exhibit cracking, and their pull-off strength (up to >3 MPa) conformed to the requirements of relevant standards.
Alkali-activated fly ashes have been proposed for various applications where resistance against high temperatures is required, yet several details regarding the response of these materials to heat-exposure need to be clarified. In the present study, heat-induced cracking in fly ash-based alkali-activated pastes and lightweight mortars was analyzed by in-situ acoustic emission (AE) detection during complete heating-cooling cycles (up to ∼1100 °C), augmented by thermogravimetry and ex-situ SEM and XRD analyses. The applicability of the lightweight mortars as passive fire protection coatings was assessed by recording temperature-time curves of mortar-coated steel plates. Cracking during heating was limited and associated exclusively with the dehydration of the materials in the temperature range ∼90–360 °C. However, samples heated to temperatures above ∼600 °C exhibited intense cracking on cooling. This was attributed to differential deformations caused by local sintering and partial melting at the glass transition temperature, and subsequent quenching on cooling.
The RILEM TC 281–CCC "Carbonation of concrete with supplementary cementitious materials" is studying the effect of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on natural and accelerated carbonation of blended cements. In this context a large database with carbonation depths over time has been set-up with currently 910 concrete and mortar mixes, which have been tested at different curing conditions. The collected data includes information on chemical composition and physical properties of the raw materials, on mix-design, compressive strength, curing and carbonation testing conditions. Data for a large variety of binders (with up to 94 % SCMs) and mix designs (with w/b ratios ranging from 0.26 to 0.75) were collected from the literature and unpublished material testing projects. Natural carbonation was recorded for several years in many cases, and indoor as well as outdoor results are included. However, in this contribution only lab conditions are considered. Carbonation kinetics are investigated considering the binder composition and mix design. Furthermore, the accuracy of accelerated carbonation testing is evaluated. As described in literature, the w/CaOreactive-ratio is a decisive factor for carbonation resistance but curing and exposure conditions influence the results as well. Even with identical test conditions, the scatter is very large.
The impact of high additions of vegetable oil (12 vol%) on the mechanical and microstructural properties of metakaolin-slag-based alkali-activated materials (AAMs) was studied. The addition of oil resulted in a slight decrease in initial polymerization kinetics but did not affect the final degree of reaction. AAM-oil-composite-mortars exhibited approximately ∼30% lower compressive strength primarily due to the entrainment of air voids. Newly formed soap phases significantly reduced the volume of small capillary and gel pores (pore radii <15 nm), leading to a decrease in specific inner surface area by a factor of up to 15. The porosity modification induced by the oil addition greatly enhanced the resistance of AAMs against sulfuric acid attack, shifting the dominant processes from diffusion and cracks to framework-dissolution controlled by the inherent phase stabilities. Following the immersion in sulfuric acid (pHstat = 2) for 8 weeks, the depth of corroded layer decreased by 70% and no cracks due to expansive phases were observed. These promising findings suggest that the incorporation of vegetable oil in AAMs has the potential to address durability concerns associated with diffusion-based corrosion processes, thereby expanding the range of future applications.
Alkalisch aktivierte Bindemittel (AAB) und Betone können herkömmliche Zemente beziehungsweise Betone potentiell in vielen Anwendungen ersetzen und dadurch den CO2-Fußabdruck der Bauindustrie wesentlich verkleinern. Zur Untersuchung der Stahlkorrosion in bewehrten („armierten“) Betonbauteilen werden elektrochemische Methoden wie Messungen des Freien Korrosionspotentials, des Polarisationswiderstands oder von Stromdichte-Potential-Kurven eingesetzt. Diese Methoden und die etablierten Grenzwerte zur Detektion von Korrosion sind für die Anwendung bei herkömmlichen Zementen beziehungsweise Betonen entwickelt und erprobt worden. Neue Forschungsergebnisse demonstrieren, dass Unterschiede zwischen den Porenlösungszusammensetzungen von herkömmlichen Zementen und bestimmten AAB sowie anderen schlackehaltigen Zementen erhebliche Unterschiede bei den Ergebnissen der elektrochemischen Messungen bewirken und damit zur fehlerhaften Detektion von Stahlkorrosion führen können. Ursache hierfür sind vor allem reduzierte Schwefelspezies in den Porenlösungen von AAB und anderen schlackehaltigen Zementen.
Two hybrid alkaline cements (HAC) based on Portland clinker, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash and sodium sulfate, as well as an alkali-activated GGBFS/fly ash blend and a Portland cement paste were exposed to a saturated saline solution for 70 days. The combined chemical attack of chloride, magnesium and sulfate ions and the associated changes of the phase assemblage of the materials were studied by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and spatially resolved X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental results revealed dissolution of ettringite, C-N-A-S-H and calcite, and the formation of gypsum, Kuzel's salt and Friedel's salt; thermodynamic modeling indicated the formation of M-S-H. The resistance of the HAC against attack by the saline solution increased with Portland clinker fraction. The capacity of portlandite to maintain pH at values above 10 is found to be a major factor controlling the resistance of HAC against corrosion in the saline solution.
The current ability to predict the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) is incomplete, partly because of widely varying AAM chemistries and variable testing conditions. To identify general correlations between mix design parameters and the carbonation rate of AAMs, RILEM TC 281-CCC Working Group 6 compiled and analysed carbonation data for alkali-activated concretes and mortars from the literature. For comparison purposes, data for blended Portland cement-based concretes with a high percentage of SCMs (≥66% of the binder) were also included in the database. The results show that the water/CaO ratio is not a reliable indicator of the carbonation rate of AAMs. A better indicator of the carbonation rate of AAMs under conditions approximating natural carbonation is their water/(CaO + MgOeq + Na2Oeq + K2Oeq) ratio, where the index ‘eq’ indicates an equivalent amount based on molar masses. This finding can be explained by the CO2 binding capacity of alkaline-earth and alkali metal ions; the obtained correlation also indicates an influence of the space-filling capability of the binding phases of AAMs, as for conventional cements. However, this ratio can serve only as an approximate indicator of carbonation resistance, as other parameters also affect the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated concretes. In addition, the analysis of the dataset revealed peculiarities of accelerated tests using elevated CO2 concentrations for low-Ca AAMs, indicating that even at the relatively modest concentration of 1% CO2, accelerated testing may lead to inaccurate predictions of their carbonation resistance under natural exposure conditions.
Ein zentrales Fundament moderner Gesellschaften ist eine intakte Abwasserinfrastruktur. Schäden infolge biogener Schwefelsäurekorrosion von konventionellen Betonen haben jedoch zu einem erheblichen Sanierungsbedarf geführt. Alkaliaktivierte Mörtel besitzen aufgrund eines hohen Säurewiderstands das Potential, einen Beitrag zur langfristigen Lösung dieses Problems zu leisten. Dazu müssen jedoch zunächst die Faktoren, die den Haftverbund zwischen diesen Mörteln und dem Betonsubstrat bestimmen, besser verstanden werden, um die Eigenschaften der Beschichtungssysteme gezielt anpassen und verbessern zu können. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert hierzu einen Beitrag und zeigt dadurch Wege zu einer technisch machbaren und nachhaltigen Sanierung von Abwasserbauwerken auf.
The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of basic and advanced state-of-the-art microstructural and spectroscopic analytics to investigate inorganic material corrosion in the context of biochemically aggressive sewers. The chapter covers optical methods, electron beam, X-ray and neutron techniques (SEM, MLA, XRF, XRD, CT, Neutron radiography and tomography), and spectroscopic methods (MAS-NMR, FT-IR, and Raman). For each technique, a short section on the fundamental scientific background of the method precedes and examples of data output from the latter in respect to the corrosion of cementitious materials including reinforced concrete is presented.
This chapter aims to give a brief introduction into the field of alkali activated materials (AAM) and their physicochemical material behavior when exposed to sulfuric acid and in biochemically aggressive sewer environments. Additionally, the differences in material behavior within chemical (abiotic) and microbially induced acid environments are highlighted. Finally, existing data on overall performance of AAM, compared to conventional concrete-based building materials in sewer systems will be discussed.
Application of electrochemical methods for studying steel corrosion in alkali-activated materials
(2023)
Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are binders that can complement and partially substitute the current use of conventional cement. However, the present knowledge about how AAMs protect steel reinforcement in concrete elements is incomplete, and uncertainties exist regarding the application of electrochemical methods to investigate this issue. The present review by EFC WP11-Task Force ‘Corrosion of steel in alkali-activated materials’ demonstrates that important differences exist between AAMs and Portland cement, and between different classes of AAMs, which are mainly caused by differing pore solution compositions, and which affect the outcomes of electrochemical measurements. The high sulfide concentrations in blast furnace slag-based AAMs lead to distinct anodic polarisation curves, unusually low open circuit potentials, and low polarisation resistances, which might be incorrectly interpreted as indicating active corrosion of steel reinforcement. No systematic study of the influence of the steel–concrete interface on the susceptibility of steel to corrosion in AAMs is available. Less common electrochemical methods present an opportunity for future progress in the field.
Blast furnace cements (CEM III) and alkali-activated slags are binders for concretes with several advantageous engineering properties, and their increased adoption in construction industry could contribute to reducing the CO2 emissions associated with cement production and use. However, the current knowledge about how these cements protect steel reinforcement in concretes against corrosion is very incomplete, which impedes their large-scale application. This knowledge gap is mainly due to the fact that these cements release sulfide and other reduced sulfur species into the concrete pore solution, the consequences of which for the state of the reinforcement and electrochemical measurements are not fully understood.
The present contribution first describes peculiarities of electrochemical measurements of steel in sulfide-containing cementitious materials and related solutions as reported in the literature and a recent report by EFC Working Party 11. It is demonstrated that the high sulfide concentrations in these systems lead to low open circuit potentials and low polarisation resistances, which may be incorrectly interpreted as indicating active corrosion of the steel.
Second, preliminary results of an ongoing project [funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 458297195] related to the passivation and corrosion initiation of steel in sulfide-containing solutions and mortars are presented. Eight mortars based on one alkali-activated blast furnace slag (BFS), three alkali-activated BFS/fly ash blends, one sodium sulfate-activated CEM III/C (‘hybrid cement’), one CEM III/C, one CEM III/B, and one CEM I (ordinary Portland cement, OPC) were produced, and their pore solutions expressed and analysed after 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of curing. The pH values of the solutions differed systematically, with the highest pH values recorded for the CEM I and the alkali-activated BFS/fly ash blends with a high proportion of fly ash, and the lowest pH recorded for the CEM III/B. The redox potentials of the solutions were between −500 mV and −340 mV vs. Ag/AgCl for the alkali-activated binders, approx. +10 mV vs. Ag/AgCl for the CEM I, and in between for the CEM III/B and the CEM III/C. As expected, the electrical conductivity was highest for the alkali-activated binders. These results are explained by the chemical compositions of the pore solutions of the mortars.
Finally, a test set-up to investigate the behaviour of steel in sulfide-containing solutions and the changes on subsequent oxygen and/or chloride addition is introduced. Preliminary electrochemical measurements of steel in sulfide-containing solutions are presented and discussed in the context of the above-mentioned data from the literature and the compositions of the pore solutions of the studied mortars.
Portland cement is one of the principal sources of anthropomorphic CO2 emissions. It is estimated that cement production contributes up to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions and annual cement production over 4 billion tons. This has led to the development of a range of alkali activated materials (AAM), the most common precursor materials being class F fly ash and blast furnace slag. At present Class C Fly Ash is not widely utilized as an AAM due to the chemical composition and activation requirements. However, initial research on high Calcium German Class C Fly Ash suggests that the material may have potential for application as an AAM. This paper reports the development of ambient cured alkali activated mortar optimised by varying the alkali modulus and w/b ratio. The evolution of the mechanical and microstructural properties is reported over the initial 28 day period. Compressive strength in excess of 10 MPa at 7 days and 15 MPa at 28 days was achieved at ambient temperature. Similar strengths were observed for both 10% and 15% dosage but as dosage increases the optimal Alkali Modulus reduces.
Alkali-aktivierte Hüttensandbetone – CO2-reduzierte Bindemittel mit hohem Korrosionsschutzpotential
(2023)
Durch den Ersatz von Portlandzement können alkali-aktivierte Bindemittel einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Verringerung der durch die Zementklinkerherstellung verursachten CO2-Emissionen leisten. Für die Verwendung von alkali-aktivierten Bindemitteln in Stahlbetonkonstruktionen, die Chloriden oder Carbonatisierung ausgesetzt sind, ist die Fähigkeit des Stahls, den passiven Zustand zu erreichen und aufrechtzuerhalten, von großer Bedeutung. Die Prozesse der Deckschichtbildung von Stahl in alkali-aktivierten Materialien unterscheiden sich jedoch zum Teil grundlegend von denen in Portlandzementen. Alkali-aktivierte Hüttensandbetone weisen gute technische Eigenschaften auf, bisher fehlen jedoch grundlegende Kenntnisse bzgl. ihrer schützenden Wirkung bei korrosiven Angriffen. Dies ist vor allem auf ihre sulfidhaltige Porenlösung zurückzuführen, welche die elektrochemischen Eigenschaften der Stahloberfläche beeinflusst und die Verwendung herkömmlicher Bewertungsmaßstäbe erschwert. Es werden erste Ergebnisse eines DFG-Forschungsprojektes vorgestellt, in dem das Passivierungsverhalten von Stahl in alkali-aktivierten Hüttensandmörteln unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzungen sowie in Mörteln auf Basis hüttensandhaltiger Normzemente untersucht wird. Über einen Zeitraum von mindestens 28 Tagen werden an Zylinderprüfkörpern im 3-Elektroden-Aufbau das Ruhepotential sowie die Polarisationswiderstände der Stahlelektroden ermittelt.
Future lunar exploration will be based on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) techniques. The most abundant raw material on the Moon is lunar regolith, which, however, is very scarce on Earth, making the study of simulants a necessity. The objective of this study is to characterize and investigate the sintering behavior of EAC-1A lunar regolith simulant. The characterization of the simulant included the determination of the phase assemblage, characteristic temperatures determination and water content analysis. The results are discussed in the context of sintering experiments of EAC-1A simulant, which showed that the material can be sintered to a relative density close to 90%, but only within a very narrow range of temperatures (20–30 °C). Sintering experiments were performed for sieved and unsieved, as well as for dried and non-dried specimens of EAC-1A. In addition, an analysis of the densification and mechanical properties of the sintered specimens was done. The sintering experiments at different temperatures showed that the finest fraction of sieved simulant can reach a higher maximum sintering temperature, and consequently a higher densification and biaxial strength. The non-dried powder exhibited higher densification and biaxial strength after sintering compared to the dried specimen. This difference was explained with a higher green density of the non-dried powder during pressing, rather than due to an actual influence on the sintering mechanism. Nevertheless, drying the powder prior to sintering is important to avoid the overestimation of the strength of specimens to be fabricated on the Moon.
The safe storage of radioactive material in nuclear waste repositories is a major task of our societies. The sealing function of such repositories is depending on the ability of the applied construction materials to form and maintain a geotechnical barrier with the surrounding rock. Corrosion of the construction material can lead to leakage of radioactive compounds and must therefore be avoided or minimized. Since concretes based on conventional Portland cement have not been found suitable in this context, alternative binders must be evaluated.
One such class of binders are hybrid cements, which are blends of low fractions of Portland cement or Portland clinker and high fractions of supplementary cementitious materials, such as blast furnace slag and fly ash, activated by an alkali salt. Besides a low heat of hydration and a sufficient early compressive strength [1], chemical similarities with ancient Roman concrete suggest an excellent durability in saline environments [2], which makes these cements potentially suitable for applications in nuclear waste repositories in evaporite rock, such as the Morsleben repository in Germany.
In the present study, two previously designed and characterized [3] hybrid cements, an alkali-activated slag/fly ash blend, and an OPC paste were studied regarding their resistance against corrosion in an aggressive saline solution. The saline solution was designed by the Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) [Association for Facility and Reactor Safety] as a reference representing a solution forming as the result of contact of surface water with evaporite rock. The cement pastes were exposed to the saline solution up to 70 days and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and spatially resolved X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, thermodynamic modelling was performed to simulate the alterations of the phase assemblage with increasing exposure to the saline solution and, thus, provide indications on the long-term durability of the cement pastes.
The experimental results revealed a correlation between the Portland clinker content of the cements and the resistance of the cement pastes against attack by the saline solution. This outcome was related to the formation of portlandite when sufficient clinker was available, which maintained the pore solution pH at ~12.5, and thus prevented the dissolution of cementitious phases. Once portlandite was consumed, C-N-A-S-H and ettringite dissolved and released calcium, aluminium, and hydroxide ions in the solution, maintaining the pH at ~10. In this pH range, the formation Cl-AFm phases was observed. At lower pH values, i.e., extended exposure durations, gypsum was the major corrosion product. The pH-dependent dissolution and formation of phases lead to pronounced zonation in the exposed cement pastes. Thermodynamic modelling indicated that the dissolved silicon from C-N-A-S-H reacts with magnesium ions in the saline solution to form M-S-H, and that long-term exposure eventually leads to a material rich in amorphous silica and brucite.
Chloride binding by the hydrate phases of cementitious materials influences the rate of chloride ingress into these materials and, thus, the time at which chloride reaches the steel reinforcement in concrete structures. A particularly important role in this context is played by layered double hydroxides (LDHs), including AFm phases. Chloride binding isotherms of individual LDH/AFm phases would be required as input for computational models of chloride ingress, but such isotherms are only available for a few AFm phases, and in addition the available data are partly conflicting.
The present study, conducted in the context of RILEM TC 283-CAM ‘Chloride transport in alkali-activated materials’, significantly extends the available database by determining the chloride binding isotherms of LDH/AFm phases (monosulfate, strätlingite, hydrotalcite, and meixnerite), and of alkali-activated slags (AAS) produced with four different activators (Na2SiO3, Na2O∙1.87SiO2, Na2CO3, and Na2SO4), in NaOH/NaCl solutions at various liquid/solid ratios. Selected solids after chloride binding were analysed by X-ray diffraction, and thermodynamic modelling was applied to simulate the phase changes occurring during chloride binding by the AFm phases.
The chloride binding isotherms of LDH/AFm phases depended strongly on the liquid/solid ratio during the experiments, resolving apparent contradictions of the previously available data. The dependency on liquid/solid ratio must be attributed to kinetic restrictions, which are, however, currently poorly understood. Chloride binding by AAS pastes was generally higher than for Portland cement pastes and was only moderately influenced by the employed activator. A steep increase of the chloride binding by AAS occurred at free chloride concentrations above approx. 1.0 M, which is possibly related to chloride binding by the C-(N-)A-S-H gel in the AAS.
While alkali-activated binders offer certain advantages over traditional Portland cement binders, particu¬larly in terms of resistance against chemical attacks and potentially environmental footprint, their degra¬dation mechanisms remain incompletely understood at present, specifically carbonation. Thus, this study investigates the impact of natural and accelerated carbonation (1% and 4% CO2) on three different compositions of alkali-activated concretes: 100% calcined clay (C100) binder, 100% ground blast furnace slag (S100) binder, and a 40% calcined clay and 60% blast furnace slag blend (C40S60). C100 concretes exhibit faster carbonation kinetics, with five times greater natural carbonation depths than S100. This difference diminishes under accelerated carbonation, showing a 1.5 times difference for 1% CO2 and complete carbonation for 4% CO2 at 90 days. The results thus confirm that accelerated carbonation testing of low-Ca alkali-activated concretes yields results that are not representative of natural carbonation. The C40S60 sample demonstrates a carbonation profile similar to a CEM I concrete, i.e., a high carbonation resistance. Microstructure analysis indicates the formation of three polymorphs of calcium carbonate for S100 (calcite, vaterite, and aragonite), with a higher CO2 concentration favouring aragonite over vaterite. C100 exhibits no calcium carbonates; instead, sodium carbonates form, including trona for 4% CO2 and natrite for both accelerated tests. C40S60 shows calcium and sodium carbonates, although to a lesser extent, containing predominantly calcite and minor signals of natrite. Suitable compositions, like C40S60, prove as effective during natural or accelerated carbonation tests as conventional Portland cement concrete.
With the aim of identifying the origin and the manufacturer of a cement, a reliable procedure that provides unambiguous results is needed. Such procedure could resolve practical issues in damage research, liability issues and forensic investigations. A substantial number of attempts for fingerprinting of building materials, including cement, has already been carried out during the last decades. Most of them were based on concentration analysis of the main elements/components. This review provides an overview of provenance studies of cement and the main approaches commonly used. Provenance studies of cement via isotope techniques are also presented and discussed as representatives of the state-of-the-art in the field. Due to the characteristic properties and the occurrence of carefully selected isotope ratios, unique fingerprints of different kinds of materials can be provided by these methods. This property has largely been explored in various scientific fields such as geo- and cosmochemistry, food forensics, archaeology, geochronology, biomedical studies, and climate change processes. However, the potential of isotope techniques in cement and concrete research for provenance studies has barely been investigated.
Therefore, the review outlines a suitable approach using isotope ratios, which could lead to reliable provenancing of cementitious materials in the future.
The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio can, in principle, be used for provenancing of cement. However, while commercial cements consist of multiple components, no detailed investigation into their individual 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios or their influence on the integral 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio of the resulting cement was conducted previously. Therefore, the present study aimed at determining and comparing the conventional 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of a diverse set of Portland cements and their corresponding Portland clinkers, the major component of these cements. Two approaches to remove the additives from the cements, i.e. to measure the conventional 87Sr/86Sr isotopic fingerprint of the clinker only, were tested, namely, treatment with a potassium hydroxide/sucrose solution and sieving on a 11-µm sieve. Dissolution in concentrated hydrochloric acid/nitric acid and in diluted nitric acid was employed to determine the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of the cements and the individual clinkers. The aim was to find the most appropriate sample preparation procedure for cement provenancing, and the selection was realised by comparing the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of differently treated cements with those of the corresponding clinkers. None of the methods to separate the clinkers from the cements proved to be satisfactory. However, it was found that the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of clinker and cement generally corresponded, meaning that the latter can be used as a proxy for the clinker 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio. Finally, the concentrated hydrochloric acid/nitric acid dissolution method was found to be the most suitable sample preparation method for the cements; it is thus recommended for 87Sr/86Sr isotope analyses for cement provenancing.