Influence of modifying composition of gypsum binders on the structure of composite materials

Abstract

At present, the modern society utilizes composite materials in various branches of the national economy. The properties of such materials depend on their composition and structure, and may considerably differ from the properties of source materials. In turn, texture and structure of crystals, their packing order, size and level of sophistication affect the structure of materials. This is particularly demonstrated by hydration curing materials on the basis of gypsum and magnesia binding materials, as well as portland cement. Structuring control is one of the key problems of composite materials. Gypsum binding materials with various modification composition are suggested as a model system to study the influence of texture and structure of materials on their properties. One of them is the construction gypsum – an anhydrite binder and a multiphase gypsum binder (MGB). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was chosen as the main method of study. It is found that gypsum crystals that are formed during hydration and curing of gypsum binders with various modification composition have different texture and structure. It prevents from getting the optimal packing of a material. It is justified and confirmed that the MGB consisting of several modifications of calcium sulfate allow choosing the best material composition due to the combination of crystals having different size and form. Besides, MGB contains significant amounts of insoluble anhydrite that reduces the water-gypsum ratio of a binder and compacts its structure. Considerable attention is paid to microfillers, which significantly affect the texture and structure of materials based on gypsum binders. Iron ore concentrate of the Lebedinsky GOK generally consisting of magnetite, as well as impalpable flour cullet waste of sodium and potassium glass were used as microfillers in the given study. Ultra- and nanodispersed powders at their introduction to gypsum and anhydrite compositions change the size and morphology of crystal newgrowths and ensure the formation of ordered, denser and uniform fine-crystalline structures of composite materials, which leads to the reduction of structure imperfection, porosity and increase in contact areas of crystalline hydrates increasing physical and mechanical performance of gypsum materials. Efficient composite construction materials are obtained on the basis of MGB and microfillers.