Freezing and thawing porous media: experimental study with a dielectric capacitive method

A capacitive sensor-based apparatus has been used to study the ice/water phase change in consolidated porous media subjected to freezing and thawing. This technique relies on the dielectric properties of water, ice, air, and the mineral substrate in the radio-frequency range. It gives directly the freezing and thawing temperature depressions and indirectly provides an estimation of pore size distribution through the Gibbs–Thomson relation. It also holds good promise for evaluating the amount of liquid water in frozen porous media by combining drying and freezing tests. To cite this article: T. Fen-Chong, A. Fabbri, C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

The effect of soapstock on the cement raw mix grindability

The aim of this work is to investigate the possibility of using industrial wastes as new grinding aids in cement industry. Two samples of Soapstock from different oils were used (Sunflower Oil (SO), Corn Oil (CO)). For this purpose, one reference sample was produced without using any admixture and another one using reference grinding aids (Triethanolamine TEA).The raw mixes were characterized via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-IR technique, chemical analysis by X-ray florecence (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and mineral composition by Bouge equation and determination of free calcium oxide (CaO_f) for clinker. Grindability was determined according to PSD and resides on sieve 90 μm.In all cases the addition of grinding aids resulted in the improvement of grindability (fact that was attributed to the additive ability not only to reduce resistance to combination, but also to prevent agglomeration and powder coatings of ball and mill), and the clinker produced by this admixture was not effective.     

The fluorescence enhancement effect of the Tb-Gd-guanosine-5′-triphosphate-phen system and its analytical application

The simplified generalized standard additions method (GSAM) was investigated as an alternative method for the ICP-OES analysis of solid materials, introduced into the plasma in the form of slurries. The method is an expansion of the conventional standard additions method. It is based on the principle of varying both the sample mass and the amount of standard solution added. The relationship between the sample mass, standard solution added and signal intensity is assumed to be linear. Concentration of the analyte can be found either geometrically from the slope of the two-dimensional response plane in a three-dimensional space or mathematically from the ratio of the parameters estimated by multiple linear regression. The analysis of a series of certified reference materials (CRMs) (cement CRM-BCS No 353, gypsum CRM-Gyp A and basic slag CRM No 382/I) introduced into the plasma in the form of slurry is described. The slurries contained glycerol and hydrochloric acid and were placed in an ultrasonic bath to ensure good dispersion. Table curve 3D software was used to fit the data. Results obtained showed that the method could be successfully applied to the analysis of cement, gypsum and slag samples, without the need to dissolve them. In this way, we could avoid the use of hazardous chemicals (concentrated acids), incomplete dissolution and loss of some volatiles. The application of the simplified GSAM for the analysis did not require a CRM with similar chemical and mineralogical properties for the calibration of the instrument.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定水泥样品中的铅同位素比值

研究和讨论了用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP—MS)测定铅的同位素比值测定时，影响测试结果的准确度和精密度的主要因素及其优化过程。在优化后的仪器分析条件下，测定5μg/L的NIST SRM981自然丰度铅同位素标准溶液的各对铅同位素比值，获得的^207Pb／^206Pb分析精度可优于0．1％。在该条件下测定了14个不同的水泥粉样品中的铅同位素比值，结果显示：铅的同位素比值分析技术可以用来示踪环境监测样品的铅污染源。     

Proficiency testing of chloride content in different types of Portland cement

The accurate determination of chloride content in cement is a prerequisite for the production of high-quality concrete due to the damaging influence of free chloride ions on durability and safety of concrete constructions. The results for total chloride content in four different types of Portland cement provided by testing laboratories participating in an inter-laboratory comparison are presented. The data sets were evaluated by using different statistical methods. The laboratories exceeding critical values were signaled and sources of error were investigated. The precision parameters of the method were determined and the variance of the entire data set was apportioned among the sources of variation. The systematic differences between participating laboratories and heterogeneity of the cement samples were identified as major sources of variability of results. The ANOVA determined the intermediate precision parameters, which showed a low value for random errors resulting in good repeatability and high impact of sample and inter-laboratory difference on reproducibility of the method.Presented at the Eurachem PT Workshop September 2005, Portorož, Slovenia     

基于激光诱导击穿光谱的化验室水泥质量检测设备研制

研制了一套基于激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)的化验室水泥质量检测设备,可对水泥生熟料成分及率值进行快速检测。对该设备的总体结构、光学系统、样本制备、光谱处理方法等几方面进行了介绍。通过内标法建立定标模型,将LIBS测量结果与X射线荧光光谱分析(XRF)结果进行了对比分析,该套LIBS设备对水泥生熟料中CaO,SiO₂,Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃测量的平均绝对误差分别为0.46%,0.25%,0.13%和0.05%,对水泥熟料率值KH,SM,IM测量的平均绝对误差分别为0.02,0.05和0.04;通过计算激发产生的等离子体温度和电子密度,验证了激光诱导水泥等离子体处于局部热平衡(LTE)态。     

Biochemical response of Cupressus sempervirens to cement dust: Yields and chemical composition of its essential oil

The effects of cement dust on the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil were investigated in Cupressus sempervirens. Exposure to cement dust resulted in a significant increase in the essential oil yields. Significant factory distance-related changes in qualitative and quantitative composition of the essential oil were observed. Increasing pollution with dust increased the content of monoterpene hydrocarbons concomitant to increase of α-pinene, suggesting a redirection of the secondary metabolism of C. sempervirens towards biosynthesis of monoterpenes. In contrast, oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were strongly reduced. These results provide an overall picture of the different responses of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes to air pollution caused by cement dust. They also reveal the suitability of using C. sempervirens in the creation of green areas around cement factories and encourage the use of dusted plants as potential source of valuable natural products.     

Application of cement as new electrode material and solid-phase microextraction material demonstrated by electrochemiluminescent detection of perphenazine

Because of its unique pore network, good strength, and low cost, cement was used as a new electrode material and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) material for the first time. It was mixed with carbon to make a new electrode, cement carbon electrode (CCE). The as-prepared CCE was used to demonstrate the application of cement in SPME by Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ electrochemiluminescent detection of perphenazine (PPZ). The calibration plot for PPZ is linear from 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ M with a detection limit of 3.1 × 10⁻¹⁰ M. The method was successfully applied to the detection of PPZ in urine sample. Cement-based electrode material may also find broad applications in electrochemistry industry, such as electrochemical wastewater treatment.     

Solid-state Al and Si NMR characterization of hydrates formed in calcium aluminate-silica fume mixtures

Partially deuterated Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_y(OH)_12−4y-Al(OH)₃ mixtures, prepared by hydration of Ca₃Al₂O₆ (C₃A), Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ (C₁₂A₇) and CaAl₂O₄ (CA) phases in the presence of silica fume, have been characterized by ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al magic-angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopies. NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize anhydrous and fully hydrated samples. In hydrated compounds, Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ and Al(OH)₃ phases were detected. From the quantitative analysis of ²⁷Al NMR signals, the Al(OH)₃/Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ ratio was deduced. The incorporation of Si into the katoite structure, Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3−x(OH)_4x, was followed by ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies. Si/OH ratios were determined from the quantitative analysis of ²⁷Al MAS-NMR components associated with Al(OH)₆ and Al(OSi)(OH)₅ environments. The ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy was also used to quantify the unreacted silica and amorphous calcium aluminosilicate hydrates formed, C-S-H and C-A-S-H for short. From ²⁹Si NMR spectra, the amount of Si incorporated into different phases was estimated. Si and Al concentrations, deduced by NMR, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and Rietveld analysis of both X-ray and neutron data, indicate that only a part of available Si is incorporated in katoite structures.     

Study on the interaction between anionic and cationic latex particles and Portland cement

The interaction between organic latex polymers and the surface of hydrating cement was investigated by measuring the zeta potential and adsorbed amount of polymer on cement. First, differently charged model latex particles were synthesized in aqueous media by well-known emulsion polymerization technique. The latex polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Electrokinetic latex surface properties were investigated by means of streaming potential measurements using a particle charge detector (PCD). It is shown that the anionic latexes adsorb a considerable amount of Ca²⁺ from the cement pore solution. Next, adsorption of the latex polymers on the surface of hydrating cement was confirmed by zeta potential measurements using the electroacoustic method. A water to cement ratio in the cement paste as low as 0.5 was studied, representing actual conditions in mortar and concrete. Additionally, adsorption isotherms were determined in a sedimentation test using the depletion method. For all latex polymers, Langmuir type adsorption isotherms were found. The latex dosages required to achieve saturated adsorption on the cement surface obtained from zeta potential measurements correspond well with those determined in the sedimentation test. Electron microscopy photographs confirm that the charged latex polymers adsorb selectively on surface areas of hydrating cement showing opposite charge. This way, domains of organic latex polymers exist on the cement surface. They provide adhesion between the inorganic cement matrix and the organic polymer film formed later on by particle coalescence as a result of cement hydration and drying.