Physico-mechanical properties of composite cement pastes containing silica fume and fly ash

AbstractThis works aims to study the effect of partial substitution of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA) on the physico-mechanical properties of the hardened OPC–FA–SF composite cement pastes. The OPC was partially replaced by 20% and 30% fly ash along with 5% and 10% silica fume. The phase composition of the hydration products was investigated using XRD and DTA techniques. It was found that, the increase of FA content in OPC–FA–SF composite cement decreases the water consistency values and increases the setting times. On the other hand, the increase of SF content leads to increase the water of consistency and decrease the setting times. The partial substitution of OPC by FA and SF leads to higher porosity values with a consequent decrease in the compressive strength values especially during the early ages of hydration. At the later ages of hydration, however, the OPC–FA–SF cement pastes possess total porosity and compressive strength values close to those of the neat OPC paste. The lower of free lime contents were obtained for OPC–FA–SF composite cement pastes with the formation of further additional amounts of CSH as a result of the pozzolanic reaction. The results showed also that, the physico-mechanical properties of composite cement paste [OPC (65%)–FA (30%)–SF (5%)] were improved at later ages

Application of microbial biocementation to improve the physico-mechanical properties of cement mortar

AbstractCalcite is one of the most common and wide spread mineral on Earth constituting 4wt% of the Earth’s crust. It is naturally found in extensive sedimentary rock masses, as lime stone marble and calcareous sandstone in marine, fresh water and terrestrial environments. Calcium carbonate is one of the most well known mineral that bacteria deposit by the phenomenon called biocementation or microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Such deposits have recently emerged as promising binders for protecting and consolidating various building materials. Microbially enhanced calcite precipitation on concrete or mortar has become an important area of research regarding construction materials. This study describes a method of strength and water absorption improvement of cement–sand mortar by the microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation. A moderately alkalophilic aerobic Sporosarcina pasteurii was incorporated at different cell concentrations with the mixing water. The study showed that a 33% increase in 28days compressive strength of cement mortar was achieved with the addition of about one optical density (1OD) of bacterial cells with mixing water. The strength and water absorption improvement are due to the growth of calcite crystals within the pores of the cement–sand matrix as indicated from the microstructure obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination

Propiedades y durabilidad de los cementos adicionados con metacaolín

This paper evaluates the optimal calcination temperature and replacement ratio to ensure high metakaolin (MK) pozzolanicity in blended cement. The MK used was prepared by firing two types of local at temperatures ranging from 700 to 850 ºC. Dry blends of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and varying proportions of MK were mixed with the amount of water required to ensure optimal consistency of the resulting pastes. The specimens were cured at 100% RH for 24 h and then immersed in water for 3, 7, 28, 90 or 180 days. At each test time, the degree of hydration and compressive strength of the hardened cement pastes were measured The findings showed that the most suitable calcination temperature to obtain metakaolin is 700 ºC, while the optimal replacement ratio ranges from 25 to 30%. DTA was used to determine the phases comprising the hydration products forming at the ages studied. Pure OPC and OPC-MK specimens were immersed in 3% NaCl and 5% MgSO4 solutions for 30, 90 and 180 days to measure their durability. The OPC-MK pastes immersed in the 3% NaCl solution were observed to be highly resistant to chloride attack.El presente trabajo evalúa el comportamiento puzolánico de metacaolín (MK), producto de la calcinación a distintas temperaturas de dos tipos de caolín local de composiciones químicas diferentes, al incorporarse al cemento en diferentes proporciones. Se preparó un cemento adicionado mediante la mezcla en seco de cemento Portland ordinario (OPC) y metacaolín (MK), a los que se añadió la cantidad óptima de agua para obtener una pasta de la consistencia deseada. Las probetas se curaron a una HR del 100% durante 24 horas, sumergiéndose posteriormente en agua durante 3, 7, 28, 90 o 180 días. A cada tiempo de ensayo se controló el grado de hidratación de las pastas endurecidas y se comprobó la resistencia a la compresión de las probetas cúbicas a las edades de curado establecidas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la temperatura más adecuada para la calcinación del caolín es de 700 °C y que el porcentaje óptimo de éste en la mezcla se encuentra entre el 25 y el 30%. Las fases que componen los productos resultantes de la hidratación se identificaron mediante ATD a distintas edades de curado. Se estableció la durabilidad del OPC puro y de las mezclas de OPC-MK en disoluciones de NaCl al 3% y MgSO4 al 5% tras 30, 90 y 180 días de inmersión. Se concluyó que las pastas de OPC-MK muestran una elevada resistencia al ataque del ion cloruro

Propiedades y durabilidad del cemento con adición de metacaolín: mortero y hormigón

This article explores the effect of metakaolin, a pozzolan, on concrete performance. Compressive and splitting tensile strength were found for specimens cured for up to 360 and 90 days, respectively. Changes were recorded in the compressive strength of specimens exposed to salt (chloride and sulfatechloride solutions), and chloride penetration and binding capacity were measured. The findings were compared to the results for concrete prepared with ordinary Portland (OPC) and moderate heat of hydration (Type II) cement. MK was found to have a very positive effect on 28-day concrete strength, due to microstructure improvement of the hydrated cement. Replacing cement with metakaolin effectively raised concrete resistance to chloride attack. Concrete containing metakaolin proved to be substantially more durable in sulfate-chloride environment.En este trabajo se estudia el efecto del metacaolín sobre las prestaciones del hormigón. Las probetas curadas a 360 y 90 días se sometieron a ensayos de resistencia a compresión y de tracción indirecta respectivamente. Se hizo un seguimiento de la resistencia a la compresión de los materiales ante el ataque de sales (soluciones de cloruro y de sulfato-cloruro) y, se midió la penetración de cloruros y la capacidad de los hormigones de inmovilizar estos iones. Los resultados se compararon con los obtenidos con hormigones elaborados con cemento pórtland ordinario (OPC) y, con cemento de calor de hidratación moderado (tipo II). El MK resultó influir muy positivamente en la resistencia del hormigón a 28 días debido a la mejora de la microestructura del cemento hidratado. La sustitución de cemento por metacaolín aumentó la resistencia del hormigón al ataque de cloruros. El hormigón con metacaolín demostró ser más duradero en entornos de sulfato-cloruro que los hormigones elaborados con OPC o con cemento de tipo II. Los perfiles de concentración de cloruros a distintas profundidades y la diferencia entre los contenidos de cloruro libre y total, mostraron claramente que el cemento con metacaolín reducía la penetración de cloruros en el hormigón y, aumentaba su capacidad para combinar con iones cloruro. La conclusión general fue que podía fabricarse material puzolánico utilizable, mediante la activación térmica del caolín local

Resistance of Alkali Activated Water-Cooled Slag Geopolymer to Sulphate Attack

Ground granulated blast furnace slag is a finely ground, rapidly chilled aluminosilicate melt material that is separated from molten iron in the blast furnace as a by-product. Rapid cooling results in an amorphous or a glassy phase known as GGBFS or water cooled slag (WCS). Alkaline activation of latent hydraulic WCS by sodium hydroxide and/or sodium silicate in different ratios was studied. Curing was performed under 100 % relative humidity and at a temperature of 38°C. The results showed that mixing of both sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in ratio of 3:3 wt.,% is the optimum one giving better mechanical as well as microstructural characteristics as compared with cement mortar that has various cement content (cement : sand were 1:3 and 1:2). Durability of the water cooled slag in 5 % MgSO4 as revealed by better microstructure and high resistivity-clarifying that activation by 3:3 sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, respectively is better than using 2 and 6 % of sodium hydroxide

Influence of some industrial wastes as a heavy aggregate on durability of concrete upon utilization in the special constructions

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of some industrial wastes as a heavy aggregate on durability of the concrete after exposure to different effects. The coarse aggregates used to perform the concrete were dolomite (control) and lead slag, while fine aggregate were sand and lead slag aggregate. The physical and mechanical properties of use draw aggregates were determined also the physical and mechanical properties of different types of concrete were studied. The linear attenuation coefficients (μ) and half value layer (HVL) of gamma rays measurements have been carried out using γ-rays sources of Cs173 and Co60. Effect of sea water on the mechanical properties of high performance concrete; in addition, corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel embedded in concrete incorporating different aggregates upon exposure to sea water were studied. It was found that, the compressive strength for all concrete mixes made with dolomite and lead slag coarse aggregates satisfy the requirements of compressive strength for high performance concrete (grade-M60) after 28 days of curing in tap water. The results indicate that, the compressive strength values and gamma radiation shielding properties of concrete mix containing lead slag aggregate enhances upon replacing sand by fine portion of lead slag aggregate. The concrete mixes made with lead slag coarse aggregate proved their high endurance and could sustain sea water exposure, achieving compressive strength values exceeding grade M-60 concrete even after 6 months exposure. Lead slag concrete- in spite of its efficient durability-requires the incorporation of a corrosion inhibitor to counteract the hostile effect of the high sulfate concrete in the aggregate

Using Beatboxing for Creative Rehabilitation After Laryngectomy:Experiences From a Public Engagement Project

Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx (voice box), usually performed in patients with advanced stages of throat cancer. The psychosocial impact of losing the voice is significant, affecting a person’s professional and social life in a devastating way, and a proportion of this patient group subsequently must overcome depression (22–30%) and social isolation (40%). The profound changes to anatomical structures involved in voicing and articulation, as a result of surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy (separately or in combination with one another), introduce challenges faced in speech rehabilitation and voice production that complicate social reintegration and quality of life. After laryngectomy, breathing, voicing, articulation and tongue movement are major components in restoring communication. Regular exercise of the chest, neck and oropharyngeal muscles, in particular, is important in controlling these components and keeping the involved structures supple. It is, however, a difficult task for a speech therapist to keep the patient engaged and motivated to practice these exercises. We have adopted a multidisciplinary approach to explore the use of basic beatboxing techniques to create a wide variety of exercises that are seen as fun and interactive and that maximize the use of the structures important in alaryngeal phonation. We herein report on our empirical work in developing patients’ skills, particularly relating to voiced and unvoiced consonants to improve intelligibility. In collaboration with a professional beatboxing performer, we produced instructional online video materials to support patients working on their own and/or with support from speech therapists. Although the present paper is focused predominantly on introducing the structure of the conducted workshops, the rationale for their design and the final public engagement performance, we also include feedback from participants to commence the critical discourse about whether this type of activity could lead to systematic underlying research and robustly assessed interventions in the future. Based on this exploratory work, we conclude that the innovative approach that we employed was found to be engaging, useful, informative and motivating. We conclude by offering our views regarding the limitations of our work and the implications for future empirical research

Potential of fungi for concrete repair

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world being cement one of its main components. Cement production accounts for 5-8% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Most of the worlds infrastructures are produced from reinforced concrete and cracking is one of the major drawbacks for its durability. The cracks in concrete reduce their resistance capacity and allow the entry of harmful agents both for their microstructure and for the reinforcements located inside the structure. Sustainable solutions aimed at reducing costs and environmental impacts for this problem have been researched. The bioscience of precipitation mechanisms with microbiologically induced calcium carbonate (MICCP) is an alternative to traditionally used methods and a way to mitigate the environmental impact of using more cement and polymers. Most of the biocementation studies present bacteria as microorganisms responsible for the CaCO3 induction process. Fungi are potentially better for the biocementation process because they have more biomass and are filaments, which may aid in the mechanical behaviour of the formed bioconcrete. Thus, the present work proposes the development of a methodology to analyse the potential use of fungi present in concrete structures as biorepair agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention as a National Reperfusion Strategy for Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Assessment of Its Use in Egypt

Objective: Early treatment of acute ischemia of the heart by performing immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to restore blood flow in patients with the clinical presentation of an acute coronary syndrome and more specifically with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can save lives. This study aims to identify the mean time (door to balloon time and first contact to balloon time) to primary PCI for STEMI patients and to assess the percentage of primary PCI and its success rate in Egypt. Methods: A registry study of patients presenting to cardiac centers in Egypt was designed, where patients’ basic characteristics, the treatment strategy, and the door to balloon time and the first contact to balloon time were assessed. Results: One thousand six hundred fifty STEMI patients with a mean age of 57 years were included in the study. Immediate transfer for primary PCI was the most used treatment strategy, representing 74.6% of all treatment strategies used. The door to balloon time and the first contact to balloon time were 50 and 60 minutes, respectively, with a primary PCI success rate of 65.1%. Conclusion: The registry study results showed a marked improvement by implementation of the best treatment strategy with respect to the time factor to achieve a better outcome for STEMI patients in Egypt