Corrosion behavior of iron in cementitious solution at 80°C in anoxic condition

International audienceThe Belgian reference concept for high-level radioactive waste packaging proposed by ONDRAF/NIRAS is called Supercontainer. The design of the Supercontainer includes a stainless-steel liner, a concrete buffer and a carbon steel overpack containing one or several waste canisters. An objective of the concrete buffer is to maintain high alkaline conditions on the surface of the overpack during underground disposal of these wastes. In these conditions (alkaline and anoxic conditions), a passive film forms on the surface of the steel, resulting in very low and almost negligible uniform corrosion rates (passive dissolution). This film is generally composed of a double layer an inner layer, accounting for passivity, and a more or less porous outer layer. The latter is in contact with the environment and is formed by precipitation of elements in solution. The presence of silicon and cations from the cementitious environment could lead to neo-formed phases such as ferrous-silicates or phyllosilicates possessing corrosion inhibiting properties. The aim of this work is to study the impact of the cementitious materials during the corrosion at 80DC in anoxic media by characterizing the layer formed during the corrosion process. To ensure these measurements, iron plates were corroded in solution representative of a cementitious environment (at 80DC and under anoxic conditions). Evolution of the nature and growth of the corrosion layer is studied on samples after several duration tests. Corrosion products are characterized by means of several analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, Raman micro-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry and transmission electronic microscopy. Results have revealed evolution of composition as a function of time. Layers are mainly composed of magnetite and others phases containing iron, calcium and silicon

Thermally activated composite with two-way and multi-shape memory effects

The use of shape memory polymer composites is growing rapidly in smart structure applications. In this work, an active asymmetric composite called “controlled behavior composite material (CBCM)” is used as shape memory polymer composite. The programming and the corresponding initial fixity of the composite structure is obtained during a bending test, by heating CBCM above thermal glass transition temperature of the used Epoxy polymer. The shape memory properties of these composites are investigated by a bending test. Three types of recoveries are conducted, two classical recovery tests: unconstrained recovery and constrained recovery, and a new test of partial recovery under load. During recovery, high recovery displacement and force are produced that enables the composite to perform strong two-way actuations along with multi-shape memory effect. The recovery force confirms full recovery with two-way actuation even under a high load. This unique property of CBCM is characterized by the recovered mechanical wor

Influence du mode de polymérisation de composites verre/polyester sur leur comportement mécanique

L’objet de cette communication est d’analyser les propriétés mécaniques de composites unidirectionnels verre/polyester obtenus par deux procédés différents de polymérisation : un procédé conventionnel thermique et un procédé photochimique. Les propriétés mécaniques de surface ont été étudiées par micro-indentation afin d’observer l’influence des conditions d’élaboration sur la réponse du composite à une pénétration. Il apparait que la dureté d’indentation HIT et le taux de conversion de la résine ne sont pas suffisants pour discriminer les échantillons. Les propriétés d’élasticité et de fluage sont également nécessaires pour comparer et comprendre le comportement des différents composites. Le procédé de photopolymérisation de la résine améliore les propriétés mécaniques du composite ainsi élaboré

Simulation des temps de parcours du transport ferroviaire régional du bassin de vie stéphanois dans le cadre du projet Bahn.Ville

International audienceThe French-German research project Bahn. Ville, dealing with Rail oriented development and intermodality in German and French urban regions, has consisted in identifying the principles and factors of success of an urban development oriented towards rail, and in testing them in the agglomeration of Saint-Étienne. One of the research-actions focussed on identifying and anticipating the potential impacts in terms of urban development of a new transport system, of the tram-train type, on an existing railway line. The effect of the insertion of new stops on the global journey time is one of the criterion of the evaluation of new stops. A simulation method of the journey times is presented in this paper. The interest and the limits of this approach, regarding the rolling stock choice and the insertion of new stops, are emphasized. © 2011 INRETS et Springer-Verlag France

Influence of alkali, silicate, and sulfate content of carbonated concrete pore solution on mild steel corrosion behavior

International audienceThe increase in the rebar corrosion rate due to the concrete carbonation is the major cause of reinforced concrete degradation. The aim of this study was to investigate the corrosion behavior of mild steel rebars in simulated carbonated concrete solution. For this purpose, thermodynamic calculations, electrochemical techniques, gravimetric measurements, and surface analyses were used. Thermodynamic investigations of the nature of the interstitial solution provides an estimation of the influence of sulfate (SO$_4^2$$^-$) and alkali (Na$^+$, K$^+$) content on carbonate alkalinity of the CO$_2$/H$_2$O open system (pCO$_2$=0.3 mbar). In this system, calcium-silicate hydrates (C-S-H) remain thermodynamically unstable and amorphous silica controls silicate aqueous content at 100 ppm. Electrochemical results highlight a decrease in the corrosion rate with increasing carbonate alkalinity and the introduction of silicate. The introduction of sulfate at fixed carbonate alkalinity shows a dual effect: at high carbonate alkalinity, the corrosion rate is increased whereas at low carbonate alkalinity, corrosion rate is decreased.Those results are supported by surface analysis. Authors conclude that silicate and sulfate release from cement hydrates and fixation of alkali on carbonated hydrates are key parameters to estimate mild steel corrosion in carbonated concret

The essential role of specific Halobacterium halobium polar lipids in 2D-array formation of bacteriorhodopsin.

The mechanism whereby bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the light driven proton pump from the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium, arranges in a 2D-hexagonal array, has been studied in bilayers containing the protein, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and various fractions of H. halobium membrane lipids, by freeze fracture electron microscopy and examination of optical diffractograms of the micrographs obtained. Electron micrographs of BR/DMPC complexes containing the entire polar lipid component of H. halobium cell membranes or the total lipid component of the purple membrane, with a protein-to-total lipid molar ratio of less than 1:50 and to which 4 M NaCl had been added, revealed that trimers of BR formed into an hexagonal 2D-array similar to that found in the native purple membrane, suggesting that one or more types of the purple membrane polar lipids are required for array formation. To support this suggestion, bacteriorhodopsin was purified free of endogenous purple membrane lipids and reconstituted into lipid bilayer complexes by detergent dialysis. The lipids used to form these complexes are 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol-phosphocholine (DMPC) as the major lipid and, separately, each of the individual lipid types from the H. halobium cell membranes, namely 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol 1'-phosphate (DPhPGP), 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol 1'-sulphate (DPhPGS), 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol (DPhPG) and 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-1-O-[beta-D-Galp-3-sulphate-(1----6)-alpha-D- Manp-(1----2)-alpha-D-Glcp]-sn-glycerol (DPhGLS). When examined by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, only the complexes containing 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol- 1'-phosphate or 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol-1'-sulphate, at high protein density (less than 1:50, bacteriorhodopsin/phospholipid, molar ratio) and to which 4 M NaCl had been added, showed well defined 2D hexagonal arrays of bacteriorhodopsin trimers similar to those observed in the purple membrane of H. halobium

The essential role of specific Halobacterium halobium polar lipids in 2D-array formation of bacteriorhodopsin.

The mechanism whereby bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the light driven proton pump from the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium, arranges in a 2D-hexagonal array, has been studied in bilayers containing the protein, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and various fractions of H. halobium membrane lipids, by freeze fracture electron microscopy and examination of optical diffractograms of the micrographs obtained. Electron micrographs of BR/DMPC complexes containing the entire polar lipid component of H. halobium cell membranes or the total lipid component of the purple membrane, with a protein-to-total lipid molar ratio of less than 1:50 and to which 4 M NaCl had been added, revealed that trimers of BR formed into an hexagonal 2D-array similar to that found in the native purple membrane, suggesting that one or more types of the purple membrane polar lipids are required for array formation. To support this suggestion, bacteriorhodopsin was purified free of endogenous purple membrane lipids and reconstituted into lipid bilayer complexes by detergent dialysis. The lipids used to form these complexes are 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol-phosphocholine (DMPC) as the major lipid and, separately, each of the individual lipid types from the H. halobium cell membranes, namely 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol 1'-phosphate (DPhPGP), 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol 1'-sulphate (DPhPGS), 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol (DPhPG) and 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-1-O-[beta-D-Galp-3-sulphate-(1----6)-alpha-D- Manp-(1----2)-alpha-D-Glcp]-sn-glycerol (DPhGLS). When examined by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, only the complexes containing 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol- 1'-phosphate or 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3'-sn-glycerol-1'-sulphate, at high protein density (less than 1:50, bacteriorhodopsin/phospholipid, molar ratio) and to which 4 M NaCl had been added, showed well defined 2D hexagonal arrays of bacteriorhodopsin trimers similar to those observed in the purple membrane of H. halobium

Corrosion behaviour of Mg alloys cladding from nuclear reactors fuel in alkaline solutions

International audienceThe reprocessing of spent fuel from the French UNGG (Graphite Gas Natural Uranium) nuclear power plants generates cladding wastes such are Mg-Mn alloys. A storage strategy is to encapsulate these wastes into cement matrix. The main issue is hydrogen evolution as the main consequence of the corrosion of Mg alloys, regardless of concrete radiolysis. In fact Mg acts as an anode in most of galvanic corrosion systems and the hydrogen can be produced either by water reduction or by Anodic Hydrogen Evolution (AHE). In the last case, an increase in the rate of hydrogen production with increasing applied potential is observed. This phenomenon called "Neg-ative Different Effect" (NDE) is in contradiction with the conventional Tafel equation. The corrosion of magnesium may produce Mg$^+$ cations which react quickly with water to produce hydrogen and stable Mg$^{2+}$ cations. The interstitial solution in concrete pores is characterized by a very high pH. To reproduce the pH solution around 13, 0.1M NaOH solutions were prepared and used as electrolytes from electrochemical experiments. Stainless steel, platinum and graphite were used as cathode to investigate basic galvanic coupling as it can be encountered in the real wastes. The purpose of this work was to investigate the galvanic corrosion of Mg alloys in the high pH solutions. The study of Mg corrosion behaviour was carried out using elec-trochemical measurement: ZRA mode. The analysis of the surface and the corrosion products were performed by Raman spectroscopy. The first results showed a galvan-ic corrosion rate more important with stainless steel rather than with graphite