Potential of Portland cements for MDF materials

Macro-defect-free (MDF) materials comprise a “hot topic” example in the field of cement-based materials and composites. The methods of MAS-NMR and thermal analysis gave key data for monitoring the scope of Al–O–P cross-links both in virgin MDF test pieces and in those exposed to moisture. The increased contents of calcium aluminate hydrates, calcium silicate hydrates and CaCO₃ in moisture-attacked (as opposed to virgin) MDF probes have been detected by these methods. The controlling feedback from cross-links and interfaces to the extent of secondary interactions of MDF materials with out-door atmospheric humidity is evident. Data on both the next-nearest-neighbour (NNN) interactions and the thermal stability of cross-linked interfaces show that for MDF materials chemical knowledge is crucial to (i) procedure design; Al–O–P cross-linking is the key nano-scale aspect of the MDF formation process and (ii) exploitation; interfaces comprise compact and stable regions in which Al–O–P cross-links support moisture resistance in the MDF materials.     

In situ powder diffraction study of belite sulfoaluminate clinkering

Belite sulfoaluminate (BSA) cements have been proposed as environmentally friendly building materials, as their production may release up to 35% less CO₂ into the atmosphere when compared with ordinary Portland cement fabrication. However, their formation mechanism has not been studied in detail so far. Here, an in situ high‐temperature high‐resolution synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction study is reported. Two types of BSA clinkers have been characterized, both containing 50–60 wt% C₂S and 20–30 wt% C₄A₃ as main phases. One type is iron‐rich and a second type (with different phase assemblage) is aluminium‐rich. Furthermore, the C₂S phase reacts slowly with water, thus activation of this compound is desirable in order to enhance the mechanical strength development of the resulting cements. To do so, iron‐rich BSA clinkers have been doped with minor amounts of B₂O₃ and Na₂O to promote stabilization of α‐forms of C₂S, which are more reactive with water. The decarbonated raw materials were loaded into Pt tubes and heated to between 973 K and 1673 K, and patterns were collected using a high‐energy synchrotron beam of wavelength λ = 0.30 Å. The thermal stability of Klein's salt in these clinkers has been clarified. Several reactions have been followed: formation and decomposition of Klein's salt, melting of aluminates and ferrite, and polymorphic transformations of dicalcium silicate: ‐C₂S →α‐C₂S. Changes in mineralogical phase assemblages at a given temperature owing to the addition of minor amounts of selected elements have also been determined.     

Two-dimensional correlation relaxation studies of cement pastes

Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation correlation studies of cement pastes have been performed on a unilateral magnet, the Surface GARField. Through these measurements, the hydration process can be observed by monitoring the evolution of porosity. Characteristic relaxation time distributions have been observed in different cement pastes: fresh white cement, prehydrated white cement and ordinary Portland cement. The observed T(1)/T(2) ratio in these cements has been shown to agree with expectations based on high field values.     

Development of a 3-D, multi-nuclear continuous wave NMR imaging system

The development of a 3-D, multi-nuclear continuous wave NMR imaging (CW-NMRI) system is described and its imaging capability is demonstrated on a range of materials exhibiting extremely short T(2) relaxation values. A variety of radiofrequency resonators were constructed and incorporated into a new gradient and field offset coil assembly, while the overall system design was modified to minimise microphonic noise which was present in an earlier prototype system. The chemically combined (27)Al in a high temperature refractory cement was imaged, and the CW-NMRI system was found to be sensitive to small differences in (27)Al content in these samples. The penetration of (23)Na in salt water into samples of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was investigated, with enhanced uptake observed for samples with larger pore size distributions. The solid (13)C component in a carbonated cement sample was also imaged, as were the (7)Li nuclei in a sample of powdered Li(2)CO(3). A spatial resolution of 1mm was measured in an image of a rigid polymeric material exhibiting a principal T( *)(2) value of 16.3 micros. Finally, a high-resolution 3-D image of this rigid polymer is presented.     

微合金化元素对Fe-Al界面结合的第一性原理研究

利用第一性原理中的DFT理论研究了Fe/Al界面的能量学和电子结构,讨论了替位型掺杂的元素Zn、Mn、Ni在Fe/Al界面处的作用.结果表明:元素Zn、Mn、Ni都会优先替换界面处的Fe原子,使得界面结合能增加,体系更稳定,有利于界面的结合;跨界面的Fe原子与Al原子之间的电荷布居、键长以及差分电荷密度图的计算表明:掺杂后有利于跨界面的Fe-Al间成键,从而加强了Al层与Fe基体的结合,且结合强度由强到弱依次为:掺Zn>掺Mn>掺Ni;与实验比较吻合.最后对掺杂Zn的增韧机理加以解释.     

微合金化元素对Fe—A1界面结合的第一性原理研究

利用第一性原理中的DFT理论研究了Fe／A1界面的能量学和电子结构，讨论了替位型掺杂的元素Zn、Mn、Ni在Fe／A1界面处的作用．结果表明：元素Zn、Mn、Ni都会优先替换界面处的Fe原子，使得界面结合能增加，体系更稳定，有利于界面的结合；跨界面的Fe原子与Al原子之间的电荷布居、键长以及差分电荷密度图的计算表明：掺杂后有利于跨界面的Fe-Al间成键，从而加强了Al层与Fe基体的结合，且结合强度由强到弱依次为：掺Zn〉掺Mn〉掺Ni；与实验比较吻合．最后对掺杂Zn的增韧机理加以解释．     

Site-specific long-range order in 57Fe3Al measured by Mössbauer diffractometry

Mössbauer powder diffractometry was used to study partially ordered ⁵⁷Fe₃Al. The intensities of fundamental and superlattice Bragg diffractions were measured at 89 Doppler velocities through all nuclear resonances in the sample. The measurements were analysed to provide data on the long-range order of Fe atoms having different numbers of Al neighbours. Energy spectra of the Bragg diffractions of Mössbauer radiations were calculated with both kinematic theory and dynamic theory. Comparing experimental data with calculations showed that Fe atoms having three and five Al atoms as first-nearest neighbours (1NNs) have partial sc long-range order, similar to that of Fe atoms with four Al 1NNs. The Fe atoms with two Al 1NNs had partial fcc order similar to that of Fe atoms with zero Al 1NN. No evidence was found for B32 order for any of the Fe environments.     

Determination and imaging of binder remnants and aggregates in historic cement stone by Raman microscopy

We present to our knowledge the first application of Raman microscopic imaging to cementitious materials. This technique yielded the composition and phase distribution (spatial resolution ≈ 500 nm) in samples of cement stone taken from façade elements of four Swiss buildings covering the period of 1892–1924. Raman maps of Roman cement, a predecessor of modern Portland cement, reveal the chemical heterogeneity of clinker remnants consisting of various crystalline, polymorphic, and amorphous phases and visualize different crystal orientations. Our findings include the observation of the γ‐polymorph of Ca₂SiO₄ – previously, only detected in Portland cement – and Raman spectra of calcium aluminate (ferrite) interstitial phases in Roman cement showing significant differences to the corresponding phases in Portland cement clinker. Furthermore, calcite, vaterite, gypsum, and ettringite were identified in the rim of a nonhydrated residual nodule. Beyond binder remnants, aggregates in the form of spherical (≤500 µm diameter) slag and irregularly shaped pigment particles were analyzed. Here, we focused on the unambiguous identification of compounds in complex matrices by comparing sample spectra with database and own reference spectra. A Raman map collected on blast furnace slag in cement stone shows the spatial distribution of calcite, quartz glass and pyrite. Furthermore, several Fe‐containing, Si‐containing, and Pb‐containing phases were identified. The analysis of pigments partly confirmed and partly contradicted the bequeathed historic recipe of a cement stone façade. These results have direct implications in the field of conservation and restoration and generally demonstrate the potential of Raman imaging to provide deeper understanding of (historic) building materials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

La、Al在Fe晶界上协同作用的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理,研究了稀土La和Al在bcc-Fe中Fe晶界处的协同作用影响.计算了La和Al在晶界、表面、晶内的形成能,建立La、Al共存于晶界模型,通过电荷密度、布居分布手段分析了La、Al原子对晶界的影响.结果表明:La、Al原子易偏聚在晶界处,且La-Al的原子间距与体系结合能成正比关系. La的掺杂改善了晶界处的电荷分布情况,促进了Al原子与周围Fe原子间的相互作用,态密度曲线的计算结果显示,La原子的加入能够使La、Fe及Al原子间的键的结合力更强,从而提高了界面结合强度.     

Fe-Cr-Al合金高温氧化行为电子理论研究

从电子层面系统研究Fe-Cr-Al合金氧化膜的形成机理,杂质硫对氧化膜黏附性的影响,稀土元素在改善氧化膜黏附性方面的作用,揭示合金氧化的物理本质.研究表明氧使Al在合金表层的环境敏感镶嵌能最低,促使Al原子从合金内部向合金表面扩散,最终在合金表面偏聚.由于氧与Al间的亲和力较大,氧原子易与Al结合生成Al2O3保护膜.杂质S在基体/氧化膜界面的环境敏感镶嵌能较低,可通过扩散偏聚在基体/氧化膜界面,削弱氧化膜与合金基体的结合力.当合金中加入Y后,Y易与S结合形成稳定的硫化物,阻碍S向基体/氧化膜界面的偏聚,显著提高氧化膜的黏附性,提高合金抗高温氧化能力.     

Epitaxial growth of bcc Fe films on Al(1 0 0) surfaces using Ti as an interface stabilizer

An approach is described to promote epitaxial growth of thin metal films on single-crystal metal substrates by stabilizing the interface with an extremely thin metallic interlayer. A single atomic layer of a metal is deposited at the interface, Ti on Al(1 0 0) in this case, prior to the growth of the metal film of interest to produce an epitaxial interface in a system that is otherwise characterized by interdiffusion and disorder. The stabilized interface reduces interdiffusion and serves as a template for ordered film growth. Using Rutherford backscattering and channeling techniques along with low-energy electron diffraction and low-energy He⁺ scattering, it is demonstrated that an atomically thin layer of Ti metal deposited at the Fe-Al interface, a system well known for considerable intermixing at room temperature, reduces interdiffusion and promotes the epitaxial growth of Fe films on the Al(1 0 0) surface. The decrease in ion scattering yield for Al atoms, Fe-Fe shadowing and long-range order of the surface suggest that the epitaxial growth of Fe is greatly improved when the Ti interlayer is introduced prior to Fe deposition. Off-normal ion channeling experiments provide clear evidence for the bcc structure of Fe on the Ti/Al(1 0 0) template with the measured average (1 0 0) interplanar distance of 1.44 Å in the Fe overlayer.     

Nb-Al合金高温氧化机理

通过自编软件建立了铝氧化膜与基体铌界面的原子集团模型,用递归法计算了合金的原子埋置能、原子结合能等电子参数,从电子层面分析铌合金高温氧化机理.研究表明:铝通过晶界扩散偏聚在合金表面,并与氧结合生成致密的Al2O3氧化膜,阻挡氧向铌基体扩散.晶界和稀土元素能提高氧化膜与基体间的原子结合能,增加其界面的结合强度,加强氧化膜与基体铌间的黏附性.因此,通过在合金中添加稀土元素或细化合金晶粒均能提高铌合金的抗高温氧化性能.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance study on metakaolin-admixtured cement paste at different hydrated periods

The present work reports the effect of metakaolin (MK) on the properties of Portland cement through electron paramagnetic resonance study. Cement pastes containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% replacements of MK with cement and a water to cement ratio of 0.4 have been prepared. The g factors of Fe(III) and Mn(II) impurities at different hydration ages have been related to changes in the setting time of cement. The increase in g _Fe values and simultaneous decrease in g _Mn values with an increase in the replacement percentage of MK are explained due to pozzolanic reaction.     

F8BT薄膜表面形貌及与Al形成界面的电子结构和反应

基于共轭聚合物光电器件的性能与聚合物的表面形貌、分子取向、以及与金属电极形成的界面结构密切相关. 本文利用原子力显微镜(AFM)、同步辐射光电子能谱(SRPES)和近边X射线吸收精细结构谱(NEXAFS)等, 研究了聚(9, 9-二辛基芴并苯噻二唑)(F8BT)薄膜的表面形貌、分子取向及其与Al 电极形成界面过程的结构变化. 结果表明, 在略低于F8BT玻璃转变温度(T_g=130 ℃)条件下对F8BT薄膜进行退火, 可明显增加薄膜的表面粗糙度, 薄膜中F8BT 的分子取向角约为49°, 9, 9-二辛基芴单元(F8)与苯噻唑单元(BT)几乎在同一平面. 在Al/F8BT 界面形成过程中, Al与F8BT中的C, N和S均发生不同程度的化学反应, 并导致价带结构和未占据分子轨道(LUMO)态密度的变化. Al对F8BT进行n型掺杂引起F8BT能带弯曲的同时, 未占据能级被部分占据, 更多的电子将被注入到LUMO+1中. 通过考察价带电子结构、芯能级位移及二次截止边的变化, 绘制了清晰的Al/F8BT界面能级图.     

Properties of the Interfacial Transition Zone in Model Concrete

The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregates and cement paste in cementitious materials is a crucial element in mechanical and transport systems. Computer simulation by the SPACE system is used to approach this problem in the present paper. For the particle-packing phenomenon in the fresh state of concrete, the SPACE system relies on a dynamic generation algorithm, reflecting the production conditions of concrete. Hence, structure of the model cement has been proven more realistic than can be achieved by random generator-based system.A natural phenomenon in the ITZ around aggregate particles is size segregation leading to different gradients in porosity, particle size and surface area. Size segregation implies the difference size fractions in the binder mixture to have peak values in their densities on different distances from the aggregate surface. Structural evolution of the ITZ is stereologically quantified with the help of composition and configuration parameters in the fresh and hardened states of concrete.The addition of mineral admixtures is a successful approach to improving the ITZ microstructure. Experiments demonstrated the blending efficiency to be higher for coarser grained Portland cement (PC), due to the positive effect exerted by gap grading, i.e. by having distinctly different size ranges of particles. This is confirmed by computer simulation of the ITZ microstructure in model concretes made with blended cements. In addition, it is very important in concrete production to achieve good workability conditions to ensure sufficient dispersion of the fine rice husk ash (RHA) particles and proper migration of them into the ITZ through the structure network of large cement particles.     

LiNbO3单晶体直拉法生长时组分过冷所形成的胞状界面和胞状组织

对于沿[0001]生长的LiNbO₃单晶体,组分过冷形成的胞状界面和胞状组织进行了形态学的研究(组分过冷是由于操作上的原因在熔体中掺入了Al₂O₃而引起的),确定了胞状界面和胞状组织的基本形态。胞状界面是由相毗邻的三角锥组成,三角锥的稜锥面为{0112}面组,毗邻的三角锥体间存在沟漕,其中的熔体中浓集溶质。在长成的晶体中的胞状组织或是由{1210}面构成的其母线平行于[0001]方向的稜柱体,或是由溶质浓集的三{1210}面相交而成的三叉。实验观测证实了白丝、白点、云层及溶质尾迹是胞状组织的某种表现,而温度起伏是形成间歇式胞状组织的原因。通过胞状界面的形态研究,确定了形态干扰的某些具体形式,并证实了破坏界面稳定性的形态干扰与界面邻近流体的动量边界层的稳定性有关。文章最后讨论了高熔点氧化物晶体与金属晶体的胞状组织在形态上的差异,认为是由于两类物质的不同熔化熵而产生的。 关键词：     

Electronic structures and mechanical properties of Al(111)/ZrB2(0001) heterojunctions from first-principles calculation

Employing first-principles density functional theory (DFT), the structures and electronic and mechanical properties of Al(111)/ZrB₂(0001) heterojunctions are investigated. It is found that both B-terminated ZrB₂(0001) and Zr-terminated ZrB₂(0001) can form heterojunction interfaces with Al(111) surface. The heterojunction with B-terminated ZrB₂(0001) is demonstrated to be most stable by comparing the surface adhesion energies of six different heterojunction models. In the stable configurations, the Al atom is found projecting to the hexagonal hollow site of neighbouring boron layer for the B-terminated ZrB₂(001), and locating at the top site of the boron atoms for Zr-terminated ZrB₂(001) interface. The mechanisms of interface interaction are investigated by density of states, charge density difference and band structure calculations. It is found that covalent bonds between surface Al atoms and B atoms are formed in the B-terminated heterojunction, whereas the Al atoms and Zr atoms are stabilised by interface metallic bonds for the Zr-terminated case. Mechanical properties of Al/ZrB₂ heterojunctions are also predicted in the current work. The values of moduli of Al/ZrB₂ heterojunctions are determined to be between those of single crystal Al and ZrB₂, which exhibit the transition of mechanical strength between two bulk phases. DFT calculations with the current models provide the mechanical properties for each heterojunction and the corresponding contributions by each type of interface in the composite materials. This work paves the way for industrial applications of Al(111)/ZrB₂(0001) heterojunctions.     

玻璃离子水门汀固化反应的红外光谱研究

用红外光谱研究了玻璃离子水门汀固化反应过程,结果显示,表征聚丙烯酸盐的峰强度(～1 413 cm-1)随时间延长而逐渐增加,而硅醇基团,即最强峰(～1 039 cm-1)上的肩峰(950 cm-1),在所观察的周期中仍然存在。因此,玻璃离子水门汀抗压强度随时间延长而增加的原因在于： ①Ca2+,Al3+与聚丙烯酸的固化化学反应在一个相当长的时间内仍在进行;②因玻璃结构分解形成的硅醇基团将长期存在,并在缩合形成硅凝胶的过程中,改变基体与填料间的界面结构和组成,因此对玻璃离子水门汀的长期力学性能也将产生一定的影响。     

Macro-defect free cements: a future oriented polymer composite materials for construction industries

Abstract

An overview of Macro-defect free cements (MDFCs) formed by the interaction between polymer and cement hydration phases at very low w/c ratios is presented. As strength is a basic demand of every construction to make more durable infrastructure. Therefore, these materials have received a lot of attention due to their very high flexural and tensile strength properties. The effect of various constituents materials such as alumina content of cement, molecular weight and degree of hydrolysis of polymers on MDFCs along with their hardened properties by using different instrumentation techniques such as- X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Thermal studies, Hydration studies etc. have been studied by various researches and some of them are discussed in the presented review article. Therefore, this review describes the parameters, which influences the properties of MDFCs, enhances their properties and also provide a foot print for future scope after analysing all the necessary parameters. These materials can be used as a best future oriented construction materials in comparison to other conventional materials by improving their desired properties.     

Water dynamics in glass ionomer cements

Glass ionomer cements (GIC) are an alternative for preventive dentistry. However, these dental cements are complex systems where important motions related to the different states of the hydrogen atoms evolve in a confined porous structure. In this paper, we studied the water dynamics of two different liquids used to prepare either conventional or resin-modified glass ionomer cement. By combining thermal analysis with neutron scattering data we were able to relate the water structure in the liquids to the materials properties.