Carbonation of blended Portland cements with residual rice husk ash and limestone

A study on blended Portland cements containing residual rice husk ash and limestone filler

Service life of metakaolin-based concrete exposed to carbonation: Comparison with blended cement containing fly ash, blast furnace slag and limestone filler

Secondary durability implications: Steam cured, carbonated concrete containing limestone filler, and GGBFS

Because of its environmental and economic benefits, part of cement is replaced by limestone fillers (LS). However, the effect of LS on the chemical degradation of cement-based materials is still unclear. In this study, accelerated leaching and carbonation were applied on cement pastes to study the effects of LS replacement on the degradation rates and microstructural alterations of degraded materials. Ammonium nitrate solution was used to accelerate the leaching process, while carbonation was speeded up by applying an elevated pressure gradient of pure CO2 on samples with 65% relative humidity. The carbonation rate was characterized by phenolphthalein carbonation depth and CO2 uptake, while leaching rate was quantified by phenolphthalein leaching depth and Ca-leached amount. Leached/carbonated samples were analyzed by a series of post-analysis techniques to characterize the microstructural and mineralogical changes. Results showed that, for a similar w/c ratio, a higher LS replacement resulted in lower leaching rate. For carbonation, LS replacement promoted the CO2 uptake despite similar carbonation depth. Furthermore, LS replacement led to less C-S-H carbonation compared to samples without LS.

Topological investigations of binary and ternary mixtures: excess isentropic compressibilities

ABSTRACT: The present research aims at evaluating the physical, chemical and synergistic effects of substitution 25% cement in mass by limestone filler (LF), fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA), in similarity of physical condition (near grain size curves), and to compare the different binary and ternary mixtures of concrete after 28 days of wet curing, keeping the ratio water/cement (w/c) constant. The concrete samples were characterized in relation to the axial compressive strength and their microstructure using TG/DTA and MEV/EDS techniques. The CCA in the binary mixture was the one that obtained bigger compressive strength among the investigated mixtures, but when combined with a less reactive mineral addition in ternary mixtures, an overlap of chemical and physical effects occurred which resulted in better resistance and higher C-S-H formation in the hardened cement paste.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a material developed to maximize the engineering characteristics of hydraulic concrete, in terms of durability and mechanical properties, but the adoption of this technology in practice has not turned out as desired, mainly due to the high amounts of cement and silica fume required for its production, and for its consequences on both economic and ecological costs. As an option to improve the impact of UHPC, both on costs and on sustainability, this work evaluates four UHPC series with metakaolin additions of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, and the substitution of 37.5% of the Portland cement volume by limestone or quartz filler. The compressive strength, the bulk electrical resistivity and a set of tests for microstructural characterization (TGA, XRD and quantitative EDS) were utilized to better understand the role of calcite on the hydration and pozzolanic reactions in ternary Portland cement-metakaolin-limestone filler. Results indicate that the reaction of calcite is scarce and should be considered as a mere filler, as no increase in AFm phases were found. Nevertheless, the ternary mixture with 15% of metakaolin in addition to cement, and with 37.5% of the Portland cement volume substituted by limestone filler, was the one that presented the best performance in terms of compressive strength and bulk electrical resistivity. The results of the microstructural characterization indicate that the high kaolin content in the metakaolin originated the most significant hydration and pozzolanic reactions development between the ages of 7 and 28 days, as between 28 and 91 the reaction remained dormant. In general, the whole set of results included in this work indicate that limestone filler doesn't act as a better filler than other kind of powders when used in ternary Portland cement-metakaolin- filler systems.

Environmental considerations and technical benefits have directed research towards reducing cement clinker content in concrete, and one of the best ways to do this is to replace cement with supplementary cementitious materials. High calcium fly ash, ladle furnace slag, and limestone filler were investigated as supplementary cementitious materials in cement pastes, and binary mixtures were produced at 10%, 20%, and 30% cement replacement rates for each material. The water requirement for maximum packing and for normal consistency were obtained for each paste, and strength development was determined at 3, 7, 28, and 90 days for the 20% replacement rate. Furthermore, two ternary mixtures at 30% cement replacement were also prepared for maximum packing density and tested for compressive strength development. The results showed that high calcium fly ash decreased cement paste packing and increased water demand but contributed to strength development through reactivity. Ladle furnace slag and limestone filler, on the other hand, were less reactive and seemed to contribute to strength development through the filler effect. The ternary paste with 70% cement, 20% high calcium fly ash, and 10% limestone filler showed equivalent strength development to that of the reference cement paste.

Ebulliometric determination and prediction of (vapor + liquid) equilibria for binary and ternary mixtures containing alcohols (C 1–C 4) and dimethyl carbonate

Thermodiffusion phenomenon in fluid mixtures has been investigated by several scientists in theoretical as well as experimental fields for decades. Nevertheless, due to shortcomings of both methods, interest in searching for alternative approaches to shed some light on molecular scale of the phenomenon has spurred. The objective of this thesis is to develop an accurate molecular dynamics (MD) algorithm that can predict thermodiffusive separation in binary and ternary fluid mixtures. More importantly, the proposed algorithm should be computationally efficient in order to be suitable for integration into multi-scale computational models to simulate thermodiffusion in a large system such as an oil reservoir. In developing such an effective and efficient computational tool, this thesis introduces a modified heat exchange algorithms, wherein, a new mechanism is introduced to rescale velocities which curbs the energy loss in the system and at the same time minimizes the computational time. The performance of the new algorithm in studying Soret effect for binary and ternary mixtures has been compared with other non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) models including regular heat exchange algorithm (HEX) and reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (RNEMD). Different types of binary mixtures were studied including one equimolar mixture of argon (Ar)-krypton (Kr) above its triple point, non-equimolar normal alkane mixtures of hexane (nC6)-decane (nC10) as well as hexane (nC6)-dodecane (nC12) for six compositions, three non-equimolar mixtures of pentane (nC5) decane (nC10) at atmospheric temperature and pressure. Additionally, the new algorithm was validated for different ternary mixtures including ternary normal alkanes methane (nC1)-butane (nC4)- dodecane (nC12) for three compositions, and one composition of different types of alkane mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (THN)-dodecane (nC12)-sobutylbenzene (IBB). The new algorithm demonstrates a significant improvement in reducing the energy loss by nearly 32%. Additionally, the new algorithm is about 7-9% more computationally efficient than the regular HEX for medium and large systems. In terms of direction of thermodiffusive segregations in binary mixtures, in agreement with the experimental data, the new algorithm shows that the heavier component moves towards the cold region whereas the lighter component accumulates near the hot zone. Additionally, the strength of segregation process diminishes as the concentration of heavy component in the mixture increases. The new algorithm improved the prediction of thermodiffusion factor in binary mixtures by 24% in binary mixtures. With respect to the ternary mixtures, similarly to binary mixtures the heaviest and lightest component in the mixture move towards, cold and hot zones, respectively. While the intermediate component shows the least tendency to segregate. In terms of the strength of Soret effect, the new algorithm is about 17% more accurate than the regular HEX algorithm with respect to experimental data.

Thermodiffusion phenomenon in fluid mixtures has been investigated by several scientists in theoretical as well as experimental fields for decades. Nevertheless, due to shortcomings of both methods, interest in searching for alternative approaches to shed some light on molecular scale of the phenomenon has spurred. The objective of this thesis is to develop an accurate molecular dynamics (MD) algorithm that can predict thermodiffusive separation in binary and ternary fluid mixtures. More importantly, the proposed algorithm should be computationally efficient in order to be suitable for integration into multi-scale computational models to simulate thermodiffusion in a large system such as an oil reservoir. In developing such an effective and efficient computational tool, this thesis introduces a modified heat exchange algorithms, wherein, a new mechanism is introduced to rescale velocities which curbs the energy loss in the system and at the same time minimizes the computational time. The performance of the new algorithm in studying Soret effect for binary and ternary mixtures has been compared with other non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) models including regular heat exchange algorithm (HEX) and reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (RNEMD). Different types of binary mixtures were studied including one equimolar mixture of argon (Ar)-krypton (Kr) above its triple point, non-equimolar normal alkane mixtures of hexane (nC6)-decane (nC10) as well as hexane (nC6)-dodecane (nC12) for six compositions, three non-equimolar mixtures of pentane (nC5) decane (nC10) at atmospheric temperature and pressure. Additionally, the new algorithm was validated for different ternary mixtures including ternary normal alkanes methane (nC1)-butane (nC4)- dodecane (nC12) for three compositions, and one composition of different types of alkane mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (THN)-dodecane (nC12)-sobutylbenzene (IBB). The new algorithm demonstrates a significant improvement in reducing the energy loss by nearly 32%. Additionally, the new algorithm is about 7-9% more computationally efficient than the regular HEX for medium and large systems. In terms of direction of thermodiffusive segregations in binary mixtures, in agreement with the experimental data, the new algorithm shows that the heavier component moves towards the cold region whereas the lighter component accumulates near the hot zone. Additionally, the strength of segregation process diminishes as the concentration of heavy component in the mixture increases. The new algorithm improved the prediction of thermodiffusion factor in binary mixtures by 24% in binary mixtures. With respect to the ternary mixtures, similarly to binary mixtures the heaviest and lightest component in the mixture move towards, cold and hot zones, respectively. While the intermediate component shows the least tendency to segregate. In terms of the strength of Soret effect, the new algorithm is about 17% more accurate than the regular HEX algorithm with respect to experimental data.

This paper focuses on the influence of the chemical nature and the fineness of the fillers on the hydration process and on the compressive strength development. Four different types of fillers are considered in combination with Portland cement: quartzite filler, alumina filler, limestone filler, and silica fume. The study deals with blended mortars having a 0.45 water to powder (cement and filler) ratio with a 10% substitution of cement by filler. Quartzite fillers do not seem to accelerate the hydration process in a significant way. No positive effect is noticed on the strength development either. The presence of a fine inert alumina powder increases the rate of early hydration of Portland cement. The greater the fineness, the faster the rate of hydration heat development. This reactivity leads to an increase in the compressive strength at early age for mortar containing the finest alumina powders. In case of coarse alumina powder, no acceleration effect is obtained. Finely ground limestone (calcite) fillers promote heterogeneous nucleation of hydrates which significantly accelerates hydration. At early age, this also results in an increased mortar compressive strength in comparison with the control mortar. From the obtained results, it is clear that both chemical natures as well as fineness are important with regard to the accelerating effect of the hydration process. With increasing fineness, the accelerating effect increases. For powders with comparable fineness, it is clear that limestone powder has a more significant accelerating effect than silica fume and alumina filler. Quartzite filler seems to have no significant effect.

Effect of the substitution of cement by limestone filler on the rheological behaviour and shrinkage of microconcretes

This paper presents the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating residual rice husk ash (RHA) from thermal power plant. It was ground by a mechanical grinding method using ceramic ball mill until having the volume moment mean of 24.32 micrometer. The cementitious materials (Portland cement Type 1, OPC, and RHA) for all SCC mixtures content was kept constantly at 550 kg/m3. RHA was partially replaced in Portland cement (0, 10, 20 and 40%wt.) in producing SCC with the controlled water/cementitious (W/C) ratios of 0.28 and 0.33 by weight. Tests of fresh state properties were investigated including slump flow, V-funnel flowing time, unit weight. Further, compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity were tested. It is concluded that an optimum RHA replacement level of 20%wt. has the best performance of the SCC with different levels of RHA.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of water-to-binder ratio (w/b), air content, and type of cementitious material on the fresh and hardened properties of binary and ternary blended concrete mixtures in pavements. This experimental program prepared a total matrix of 54 mixtures with w/b of 0.40 and 0.45; nominal air content of 2, 4, and 8%; and three types of supplementary cementitious materials and one ordinary portland cement in different combinations. Binder systems included ordinary portland cement, binary mixtures with slag cement, Classes F and C fly ash, and ternary mixtures containing a combination of slag cement and one type of fly ash. Workability, total air content, air void system parameters (i.e., spacing factor and specific surface) in fresh concrete, setting time, compressive strength, surface resistivity, and shrinkage were determined. Test results showed that ternary mixtures followed the trends of their constituent materials. Binary and ternary mixtures containing Class C fly ash and slag cement exhibited higher compressive strength than the control mixture. The surface resistivity and shrinkage results of binary and ternary mixtures were equal to or improved over the control mixture.