Study of the hydration of Portland cement blended with blast-furnace slag by calorimetry and thermogravimetry

The hydration of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) blended with blast-furnace slag (BFS) is a complex process since both materials have their own reactions which are, however, influenced by each other. Moreover, the effect of the slag on the hydration process is still not entirely known and little research concerning the separation of both reactions can be found in the literature. Therefore, this article presents an investigation of the hydration process of mixes in which 0–85% of the OPC is replaced by BFS. At early ages, isothermal, semi-adiabatic and adiabatic calorimetric measurements were performed to determine the heat of hydration. At later ages, thermogravimetric (TG) analyses are more suitable to follow up the hydration by assessment of the bound water content w _b. In addition, the microstructure development was visualized by backscattered electron (BSE) microscopy. Isothermal calorimetric test results show an enhancement of the cement hydration and an additional hydration peak in the presence of BFS, whilst (semi-)adiabatic calorimetric measurements clearly indicate a decreasing temperature rise with increasing BFS content. Based on the cumulative heat production curves, the OPC and BFS reactions were separated to determine the reaction degree Q(t)/Q _∞ (Q = cumulative heat production) of the cement, slag and total binder. Moreover, thermogravimetry also allowed to calculate the reaction degree by w _b(t)/w _b∞. The reaction degrees w _b(t)/w _b∞, Q(t)/Q _∞ and the hydration degrees determined by BSE-image analysis showed quite good correspondence.     

Study of clinker dopped with P and S compounds

The sintering and the structure of clinkers, modified by the introduction of different ionic forms of sulfur and phosphorus into the raw mix, were examined. One reference synthetic mixture and 25 modified mixtures were prepared by mixing the reference sample with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%w/w of chemical grade CaSO₄, CaS, Ca₃(PO₄)₂, CaHPO₄ and Ca(H₂PO₄)₂. Free lime content in all samples was measured. The sintering reactions in samples were recorded by means of differential thermal analysis. The texture of the clinkers was examined using a scanning electron microscope and EDX. It is concluded that, despite of their relatively low doping concentration in the raw mix, P and S affect considerably its reactivity and the texture of the clinker. The various ionic forms of the same element (SO₄ ^2-, S^2- for S, PO₄ ^3-, HPO₄ ^2- and H₂PO₄ ^- for P) exhibit a different and unequivocal effect on the reactivity of the synthetic raw mix and on the texture of the corresponding clinkers. S (in both forms) and P (added as HPO₄ ^2-) are mainly dissolved in the melt and they have a positive effect on the burnability of the raw mix. P (added as PO₄ ^3- or H₂PO^4-) is preferentially accumulated in belite. In this case further stabilization of β-C₂S occurs and the binding of the free lime is hindered. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydration of shrinkage-compensating binders with different compositions and water-binder ratios

The calorimetric data of blended shrinkage-compensating binders with different compositions were measured at 25°C at different water-binder ratios using an isothermal calorimeter. The hydration characteristics of shrinkage-compensating binders were evaluated and their influence on the expansive properties of blended shrinkage-compensating binders was determined. Composition and w/b ratio significantly affect the hydration rate and degree of shrinkage-compensating binders, as well as their expansive and mechanical properties. The total heat of hydration of binders decreases with w/c ratios. Its final hydration degree also decreases with w/c ratio. The ternary binders composed with Portland cement, mineral admixture and expansive agent show low hydration heat and rate of heat evolution, but their total heat of hydration increases continuously and surpasses that of binary binder in later period at low w/b ratio. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigation regarding the effect of viscosity modifying admixtures upon the Portland cement hydration using thermal analysis

The effect of 13 viscosity modifying admixtures (VMA) on the Portland cement hydration was studied in this paper. In this purpose, thermal analyses (DTA and TG) were performed after 1, 7 and 28 days of hydration on cement pastes containing 0.01–0.5 % from the following VMA: diutan gum, welan gum, polygalactomannane ether, natural cellulose fibres, modified polysaccharide, polyacrylamide, high-molecular mass synthetic copolymer, hydroxypropyl starch and a chemically modified starch. It was noticed that the proportion of Ca(OH)₂ from the samples containing polygalactomannane ether and modified polysaccharide was smaller than in the reference sample, which proved their effect of cement hydration delay. For the other VMA, this effect was not detected, on the contrary, the amount of Ca(OH)₂ was higher than in the reference sample.     

Optimization of Cellulase and Xylanase Productions by Streptomyces thermocoprophilus Strain TC13W Using Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch and Tuna Condensate as Substrates

The modified medium composed of the alkaline-pretreated oil palm empty fruit bunch (APEFB) and tuna condensate powder was used for cellulase and xylanase productions by Streptomyces thermocoprophilus strain TC13W. The APEFB contained 74.46% (w/w) cellulose, 15.72% (w/w) hemicellulose, and 6.40% (w/w) lignin. The tuna condensate powder contained 55.49% (w/w) protein and 11.05% (w/w) salt. In the modified medium with only 6.75 g/l tuna condensate powder, 10 g/l APEFB, and 0.5 g/l Tween 80, S. thermocoprophilus strain TC13W produced cellulase 4.9 U/ml and xylanase 9.0 U/ml. The enzyme productions in the modified medium were lower than cellulase (6.0 U/ml) and xylanase (12.0 U/ml) productions in the complex medium (CaCl₂ 0.1, MgSO₄·7H₂O 0.1, KH₂PO₄ 0.5, K₂HPO₄ 1.0, NaCl 0.2, yeast extract 5.0, NH₄NO₃ 1.0, Tween 80 0.5). When tuna condensate powder in the modified medium was reduced to 5.0 g/l and Tween 80 was increased to 1.5 g/l, S. thermocoprophilus strain TC13W produced cellulase and xylanase activities of 9.1 and 12.1 U/ml, respectively. This study shows that the cost of enzyme production could be reduced by using pretreated EFB and tuna condensate as a carbon and a nitrogen source, respectively.

     

Characteristics of lime-silica fume mixtures

The hydration of two calcium hydroxide-silica fume mixtures was studied at 25°C. The mixtures were prepared at lime/silica molar ratios of 1.0 and 1.7. The free lime, free silica and chemically combined water contents were determined after various periods of hydration (0.5 h-90 days). Thus, the molar ratios CaO/SiO₂ and H₂O/SiO₂ molar in the calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) formed could be derived. The hydrates formed were identified by using differential thermal analysis. The mechanism of the hydration-gardening thermal analysis. The mechanism of the hydration-hardening reaction between lime and silica fumes was suggested. The changes in the molar ratios CaO/SiO₂ and H₂O/SiO₂ in the C-S-H formed with the time of hydration were found to follow the same trends as observed during the hydration course for the suggested mechanism.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Methacrylates Derived from Morpholine and Pyrrolidine: The Determination of Kinetic Parameters with Thermogravimetric Analysis

Abstract

The synthesis of two new methacrylate esters containing morpholine and pyrrolidine group are described. The monomers produced from the reaction of corresponding morpholino chloroacetamide and pyrrolidino chloroacetamide with sodium methacrylate were polymerized in DMSO solution at 65°C using AIBN as an initiator. The monomers and their polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature of the polymers were investigated by DSC and thermal decomposition activation energies were calculated by the Ozawa method using the SETARAM Labsys thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) thermobalance, respectively. By using gel permeation chromatography, weight average (M¯_w) and number average (M¯_n) molecular weights and polidispersity indices of the polymers were determined.     

Molecular weight dependence of mechanical properties of poly(p,p′-oxydiphenylene pyromellitimide) films

The mechanical properties, i.e., Young's modulus, elongation, and tensile stress, were determined as functions of the molecular weight for films of poly(oxydi-p-phenylene pyromellitimide) prepared by thermal cyclization of the precursor poly(amic acid). The molecular weights of the samples were controlled by the monomer stoichiometry employed for the solution condensation of pyromellitic dianhydride and p,p′-oxydianiline. Weight-average molecular weights were determined by light scattering of the precursor poly(amic acid) as well as the fully cyclized polyimide. The elongation-at-break is most sensitive to the molecular weight, undergoing a rapid increase at M _w ? 8000 and reaching a limiting value of about 60% for M _w > 20,000.     

Effect of Modifying Additives on the Sintering and Properties of SiC/SiC<Subscript>w</Subscript> Ceramic Composite Material

Spark plasma sintering and hot compaction methods were used to obtain experimental samples of a composite material of the SiC?SiC_w system with various modifying additives (AlN, B₄C, HfB₂, Y₂O₃, Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄). The effect of the modifying additives on the sintering process, physicomechanical, and thermal properties of the ceramic composite material was examined. The introduction of the modifying additives lowered the sintering temperature of silicon carbide produced by the hot compaction method by 200°C and that formed with spark plasma spark sintering by 300?450°C as compared with the sintering temperature of silicon carbide without additives.     

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 1—Larmor frequency ratio,referencing and chemical shift

Precise values for the ratio of the Larmor frequencies, w_1H/w_2H, were measured at constant field for various organic compounds. The values of the Larmor frequency ratio depend on carbon-hydrogen bond hybridization. The best ratio for the ghost referencing of ²H NMR spectra was then determined (6.514399862). This value enables an accurate ghost reference for any ²H NMR spectrum to be derived from the observed ¹H NMR frequency of the normal internal reference. Deuterium and proton chemical shifts measured from internal, partially deuteriated TMS under the same conditions are shown to be the same.     

BaTi<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders prepared by the modified Pechini method

The results reported here based on a study of BaTi_1–xZr_xO₃ (x=0, 0.2 and 1) nanometric powders prepared by the modified Pechini method. The powder samples annealed from 600 to 1000°C/2 h were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The decomposition reactions of resins were studied using thermal analysis measurements. The barium titanate zirconate system presented just one orthorhombic phase. Furthermore, this study produced BaTiO₃ powders with a tetragonal structure using shorter heat treatments and less expensive precursor materials than those required by the traditional methods.     

Determination of the lipophilicity of quinolinesulfonamides by reversed-phase HPLC and theoretical calculations

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analyses were used for the determination of the retention factor (log k) of a set of quinolinesulfonamides. The analyses utilized a mixture of acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase. The log k values were linearly dependent on the concentration of acetonitrile and extrapolated to 100% water and gave the lipophilicity parameter log k_w. The parameter log P_HPLC was determined from log k_w values using the calibration curve obtained for five standards. The log P_HPLC parameters are discussed in terms of structure–lipophilicity relationships. Furthermore, the theoretical lipophilic parameters (log P_calc) for all compounds were calculated using chemical programs (e.g., Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/ logP), miLogP, AlogP, ClogP, and Pallas). The determined log P_HPLC and calculated log P_calc values were compared by linear regression analysis.     

Stimuli‐responsive cationic terpolymers by RAFT polymerization: Synthesis,characterization, and protein interaction studies

The controlled synthesis and characterization of a range of stimuli responsive cationic terpolymers containing varying amounts of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), 3‐(methylacryloylamino)propyl trimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC), and poly(ethylene glycol)monomethyl methacrylate (PEGMA) is presented. The terpolymers were synthesized using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Compositions of the terpolymers determined using ¹H NMR were in close agreement to the theoretical values determined from the monomer feed ratios. GPC‐MALLS was used to analyze the molecular weight characteristics of the polymers, which were found to have low polydispersities (M_w/M_n 1.1–1.4). The phase transitions were studied as a function of PEGMA and NIPAM content using temperature controlled ¹H NMR and turbidity measurements (UV‐Vis). The relationship between thermal stability and the comonomer ratio of the polymers was measured using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Protein interaction studies were performed to determine the suitability of the polymers for biological applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4021–4029, 2008     

Copolymers of p-Nitrobenzyl Acrylate with Methyl Acrylate: Synthesis,Characterization, and Monomer Reactivity Ratios

Abstract

Copolymers of p-nitrobenzyl acrylate and methyl acrylate with different feed ratios are synthesized in ethyl methyl ketone using benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator at 70 ± 1°C. The copolymers were characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Copolymer compositions were determined by ¹H-NMR analysis of the polymers. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the application of conventional linearization methods such as Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdös. Gel permeation chromatography was used for determining the molecular weights M _n and M _w, and the polydispersity index. The intrinsic viscosities and the thermal properties of the homo- and copolymers are also discussed.     

Control of the molecular weight of hyperbranched polyglycerols

Hyperbranched polyglycerols exceeding M_n > 15,000 g/mol (DP_n > 270) have been prepared, using a modified version of the synthetic protocol reported earlier. In the optimized process polydispersities recorded by SEC remained narrow, with M_w/M_n < 1.7 over a large molecular weight range. The drastic increase of viscositity in the course of the reaction, was found to be responsible for the increased fraction of cycles (MALDI‐TOF MS) at high molecular weights.     

The Kissinger law and isokinetic effect: Part II. Experimental analysis

On the basis of copper sulphate pentahydrate thermal dissociation, for analyzed reactions I to IV, 6 thermokinetic equations was discussed. Arrhenius law parameters were determined and the isokinetic effect (IE) and Kissinger law appearing was analyzed. It was found that only dependence resulting from isokinetic effect, in the form k _m=q/T _m, relates to the suitable thermokinetic Eq. (2) and Kissinger law in modified form (14). The confirmation was made that the possibility of determining the averaged activation energy from thermokinetic equations using suitable correction coefficients exists.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Countercurrent Chromatography for the Measurement of the Hydrophobicity of Sulfonamide Amphoteric Compounds

Octanol-water partition coefficients (P _o/w ) of 17 sulfonamides (SAs) were determined by countercurrent chromatography (CCC). The measured P _o/w values were in the 0.002–46 range (–2.65 < log P _o/w < 1.7). The lipophility of these compounds depends on the pH showing a maximum for intermediate values. The apparent P _o/w coefficients of SAs were obtained at 5 pH values: 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11, using 0.01 M ammonium phosphate octanol saturated buffers. A theoretical model linking these values with pH for amphoteric compounds was checked and verified. Often the P _o/w coefficients of the molecular forms obtained with the CCC method differ significantly from literature values obtained using softwares and/or from experimental values calculated with extrapolation. The CCC method allows also the determination of the P _o/w coefficients of the ionic forms of the SAs, cationic forms at low pH values and anionic forms at elevated pHs. The acidity constants were also estimated using the theoretical model. Relationships between SA retention factors obtained by RPLC and hydrophobicity were also discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of multiarm star-branched polyisobutylenes: Effect of arm molecular weight

A series of star-branched polyisobutylenes with varying arm molecular weights was synthesized using the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane/TiCl₄/pyridine initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a core-forming comonomer (linking agent). The resulting star-branched polymers were characterized with regard to the weight-average number of arms per star molecule (N̄_w) and dilute solution viscosity behavior. As the molecular weight of the arm (M̄_{w, arm}) was increased, dramatically longer star-forming reaction times were needed to produce fully developed star polymers. It was calculated that N̄_w varied from 50 to 5 as the M̄_{w, arm} was increased from 13,000 to 54,000 g/mol. The radius of gyration, R_g, of the star polymers was observed to increase as M̄_{w, arm} was increased. The solution properties of the star polymers were evaluated in heptane using dilute solution viscometry. It was determined that the stars had a much higher [η] compared to the respective linear PIB arms, but a much lower [η] compared to a hypothetical linear analog of an equivalent molecular weight. The dependence of [η] on temperature for the stars and linear arms was very small over the temperature range 25 to 75°C, with only a very slight decrease with increasing temperature. [η]_star was also determined to increase with increasing M̄_{w, arm}, but decrease with increasing M̄_{w, star}. The branching coefficient, g′, calculated for the stars at 25°C, increased as N̄_w decreased and agre ed well with literature values for other star polymer systems. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3767–3778, 1997     

Comparison of 14 MeV-NAA, k0-NAA and ED-XRF for air pollution bio-monitoring

In this paper the performances and the limitations of three multi-elementary analysis techniques are compared applied to a study of air pollution biomonitoring in Morocco. These techniques are: (1) 14 MeV neutron activation analysis (14 MeV-NAA), (2) thermal neutron activation analysis using the k ₀ quasi-absolute method (k ₀-NAA) and (3) energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (ED-XRF). The experimental procedures and the control of the analytical results using certified reference materials are described and discussed. The three methods were confronted for the analysis of lichens, mosses and tree-barks. The complementarity of these methods enabled us to determine 43 elements in different samples. The most suitable method for each element was selected according to the sensitivity and selectivity necessitating the minimum corrections of the matrix effects and/or the interfering reactions.