Magnesium perturbation in low-pH concretes placed in clayey environment - Solid characterizations and modeling

International audienceIn the framework of the CI project, the interaction of two different low-pH cements (ESDRED and LAC) with Opalinus Clay (OPA) at Mont-Terri rock laboratory was studied. SEM-EDS analyses showed after 2.5 and 5 years of interaction a Mg-enriched zone associated with a decalcification of the C-S-H near the OPA contact zone of both cements. TGA and XRD investigations indicate that hydrotalcite and brucite predict classically in modeling are not formed. 29Si NMR and FTIR analyses showing a high polymerization degree of the Si-network typical of a sheet-like structure as observed for M-S-H. TEM/EDS investigations of the Mg enriched zone of both concretes indicate that the formed Mg phase exhibits a gel-like structure. New reactive transport modeling with the HYTEC code corroborates the formation of M-S-H at the interface. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Highly Transparent Polycrystalline Ceramics Synthesized by Full Crystallization from Glass

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Tailoring crystallization in oxide glasses: Application to transparent polycrystalline ceramics and nanostructured glass-ceramics

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New Transparent Polycrystalline Ceramics Elaborated by Full Crystallization from Glass

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New Transparent Polycrystalline Ceramics Elaborated by Full Crystallization from Glass

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Recent progress in transparent ceramics synthesized by full crystallization from glass

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Perfectly Transparent Sr3Al2O6 Polycrystalline Ceramic Elaborated from Glass Crystallization

International audienceThe highly visible and infrared (up to 6 mu m) transparent Sr3Al2O6 polycrystalline ceramic was obtained by full crystallization of the corresponding glass composition. The glass synthesis and the direct congruent crystallization processes are described, and the material transparency is discussed in light of its microstructure. This new transparent ceramic exhibits a high density (i.e., complete absence of porosity) and micrometer-scale crystallites with very thin grain boundaries. These microstructural characteristics, inherent to the preparation method, minimize light scattering and demonstrate the advantages of this synthesis route compared to the high-pressure process used for the few reported transparent polycrystalline materials. This Sr3Al2O6 ceramic shows a H = 10.5 GPa hardness, a E-r = 150 GPa reduced elasticity modulus, and a 9.6 x 10(-6) K-1 thermal expansion coefficient. Such a transparent strontium aluminate ceramic opens the way to a wide range of applications, especially photonics when doped by various doping agents. As examples, the luminescence of Sr3Al2O6:Eu3+ and Sr3Al2O6:Er3+, which show strong emissions in the visible and infrared ranges, respectively, is presented. Moreover, the Sr3Al2O6:Ce3+ material was found to exhibit scintillation properties under X-ray excitation. Interestingly, the analogous Sr3Ga2O6 transparent polycrystalline ceramic material could equally be prepared using the same elaboration method, although its hygroscopicity prevents the preservation of its high transparency under normal conditions. The establishment of the key factors for the transparency of this economical and innovative synthesis method should enable the prediction of new classes of technologically relevant transparent ceramics