Physical and chemical characterization of building materials

The products used in the construction of buildings and infrastructures, are made from raw material extracted directly from nature, and after suitable transformation processes are placed on site. Approximately 2.5 tons of materials per square meter are used in a residential building. The most abundant percentages are: Gravel and sand 57.8, ceramics 21.6, cement 12.5, lime 1.98 and gypsum 0.46. Some materials used cause a high impact of negative character in the environment but their quantification is low whereas others of low impact but are used of massive form in construction reason why they can cause serious hazards for the human health. The raw material used in the manufacture of construction materials is extracted directly from nature or is originated by a mixture of raw material and recycled material. In any case, it is necessary to analyze the chemical composition of the construction products whether they are natural, whether they are transformed or mixed. The purpose of this work was to perform a physical-chemical characterization of samples from factories located in three regions of different geological nature: granitic, calcareous and sedimentary. The materials analyzed come from different factories located in Spain 18 factories of cements, bricks and tiles 15, ceramics 16, sands 15 and natural stones 18. They were supplied by manufacturers and it has been made a physic-chemical characterization of the samples received. The chemical composition of the samples of cement, brick, ceramic and roofing tile has been made using ICP-MS and EDXRF. The results of these analyze shows near 72 different elements. The higher concentrations are of Na, K, Ca, Al, Fe and Si. All the samples were also characterized using XRPD. It is a powerful tool for material characterization in general, and cements materials in particular. The use of the Rietveld method has allowed quantifying the clinkers and cements measured by laboratory x-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) giving their accurate phase assemblage. From the average composition of the different classes of cements analyzed, it is concluded that, except for two samples, the rest all correspond to Portland cements of different strength.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Assessment of natural radiactivity from building materials in Spain

The industrial construction sector is very important in Spain. Building materials used in this industry are sources of radiation from natural radionuclides they contain. The aim of this work is to measure the natural radioactivity in building materials. The relevance of the contribution of natural radiation that they generate implies their analysis taking into account the limitations imposed by national and international regulations and legislations. The studies about this subject have increased notably during last years. This, probably, can be associated with the increase interest from natural radiation radiological risk on indoor exposure. Radioactivity of some building materials could be increase, during the manufacturing processes, as results of the addition of NORM products to improve their properties. All building materials have varying amounts of natural radionuclides. They belong to natural radionuclides of uranium (238U) and thorium (232Th) series, together with the radioactive isotope of potassium (40K). The concentration of the natural radioactivity in the selected cements and ceramics were conducted with a coaxial ReGe detector. The energy an absolute efficiency calibration of the spectrometer was made using a sample certificated by IAEA-312 and IAEA-385. Software use to analyze the spectrum is the Cenie-2000 v.2.0 Canberra Nuclear. The activity concentrations from 226Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively from samples of Portland cements, tiles, ceramic and natural stones were determined. To compare the radiological effects of the materials used in the building which contain 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, a common index is required to obtain the sum of activities and according to RP 112 the absorbed dose in air can be calculated. Some indices dealing with the assessment of the excess gamma radiation arising from building materials such as Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq); External Hazard Index (Hex),;the Activity Concentration Index(I); Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate in indoor air (D); and Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE). In this paper 150 samples from granitic, calcareous, sedimentary zones of Spain have been evaluated Concentration of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) are in usual range (except few exceptions) and below maximal permitted values, so that examined materials could be used for construction of new buildings (for interior and external works) as well as for covering of pavements, floors, etc.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Physical and chemical characterization of building materials

The products used in the construction of buildings and infrastructures, are made from raw material extracted directly from nature, and after suitable transformation processes are placed on site. Approximately 2.5 tons of materials per square meter are used in a residential building. The most abundant percentages are: Gravel and sand 57.8, ceramics 21.6, cement 12.5, lime 1.98 and gypsum 0.46. Some materials used cause a high impact of negative character in the environment but their quantification is low whereas others of low impact but are used of massive form in construction reason why they can cause serious hazards for the human health. The raw material used in the manufacture of construction materials is extracted directly from nature or is originated by a mixture of raw material and recycled material. In any case, it is necessary to analyze the chemical composition of the construction products whether they are natural, whether they are transformed or mixed. The purpose of this work was to perform a physical-chemical characterization of samples from factories located in three regions of different geological nature: granitic, calcareous and sedimentary. The materials analyzed come from different factories located in Spain 18 factories of cements, bricks and tiles 15, ceramics 16, sands 15 and natural stones 18. They were supplied by manufacturers and it has been made a physic-chemical characterization of the samples received. The chemical composition of the samples of cement, brick, ceramic and roofing tile has been made using ICP-MS and EDXRF. The results of these analyze shows near 72 different elements. The higher concentrations are of Na, K, Ca, Al, Fe and Si. All the samples were also characterized using XRPD. It is a powerful tool for material characterization in general, and cements materials in particular. The use of the Rietveld method has allowed quantifying the clinkers and cements measured by laboratory x-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) giving their accurate phase assemblage. From the average composition of the different classes of cements analyzed, it is concluded that, except for two samples, the rest all correspond to Portland cements of different strength.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech