Bioactivity enhancement of calcined kaolin geopolymer with CaCl2 treatment

This paper reports that surface treatment with CaCl2 enhances the bioactivity of a calcined kaolin geopolymer. Calcined kaolin, NaOH solution, sodium silicate solution, and heat curing were used to form geopolymer pastes. A soaked-treatment method was applied to the geopolymer samples using CaCl2 solution as the ion exchange agent. The bioactivity of the material was determined by the simulated body fluid (SBF) in vitro testing method. Scanning electron microscope images showed a dense apatite formation on the treated geopolymer surface after SBF immersion for only 3 days. The CaCl2 treatment promoted compressive strength and enhanced bioactivity by accelerating apatite precipitation and slowing down the rise in pH.This work was financially supported by the Higher Education Research Promotion and National Research University Project of Thailand, Office of the Higher Education Commission, through the Advanced Functional Materials Cluster of Khon Kaen University; and Khon Kaen University and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under the TRF-Royal Golden Jubilee Ph. D. program (Grant no. PHD/0143/2554); Post-doctoral training program (Grant no. 58110), Graduate school, Khon Kaen University and TRF Senior Research Scholar Contract No. RTA5780004.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Apatite formation on calcined kaolin-white Portland cement geopolymer

In this study, calcined kaolin–white Portland cement geopolymerwas investigated for use as biomaterial. Sodiumhydroxide and sodium silicate were used as activators. In vitro test was performed with simulated body fluid (SBF) for bioactivity characterization. The formation of hydroxyapatite bio-layer on the 28-day soaked samples surface was tested using SEM, EDS and XRD analyses. The results showed that the morphology of hydroxyapatite was affected by the source material composition, alkali concentration and curing temperature. The calcined kaolin–white Portland cement geopolymer with relatively high compressive strength could be fabricated for use as biomaterial. The mix with 50% white Portland cement and 50% calcined kaolin had 28-day compressive strength of 59.0 MPa and the hydroxyapatite bio-layer on the 28-day soaked sample surface was clearly evident.This work was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Khon Kaen University under the TRF-Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. program (Grant No. PHD/0143/2554) and TRF-Senior Research Scholar (Grant No. RTA5780004)

Evaluation of electric properties of cement mortars containing pozzolans

[ES] En este trabajo se analiza la microestructura de morteros de cemento Portland, mediante medidas de impedancia eléctrica. Se comparan morteros de cemento sin y con dos sustituciones puzolánicas: residuo de catalizador de craqueo catalítico (FCC) y metacaolín (MK). Se describe el método de medida y se desarrolla el modelo de análisis de los espectros de impedancia eléctrica. Se definen tres parámetros eléctricos: resistividad eléctrica, exponente capacitivo y factor capacitivo. Se observa un aumento importante de la resistividad de los morteros con puzolana a partir de los 7 días de curado, sobre todo en morteros con MK. Este aumento está correlacionado con la fijación de cal de las puzolanas. Las propiedades capacitivas son diferentes a edad temprana, pero se igualan a los 148 días. Los resultados eléctricos y mineralógicos muestran que la evolución microestructural comienza antes en los morteros con MK que con FCC y que la microestructura final es diferente.[EN] In this paper the evolution of the microstructure of Portland cement mortar is analyzed, by using electrical impedance measurements. Cement mortars are compared without and with two pozzolanic substitutions: spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (FCC) and metakaolin (MK). The measurement method is described and the model for analyzing the electrical impedance spectra is developed. Three electrical parameters are defined: electrical resistivity, capacitance exponent, and capacitive factor. The results show a significant increase in resistivity of the mortars with pozzolans after 7 days of curing, especially in mortars with MK. This increase is correlated with lime-fixing by the pozzolans. The capacitive properties evolve differently at early age, but reach the same values after 148 days. The electrical and mineralogical data show that the evolution of the microstructure in the mortar with MK starts before it does in the mortars with FCC and that the final microstructure becomes different.Authors thank to Ministerio de Educacion (Spanish research plan) the financial support to the projects BIA 2006-15188-C03-02 y BIA 2004-00520, with FEDER co-financing. Also thank to Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Vicerrectorado de Investigacion) the research grant for L.F. Lalinde (PPI-01-04 ref 5939) and financial support to the project PAID-05-09 ref 4302.Cruz González, JM.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ.; Lalinde Castrillón, LF.; Fita Fernández, IC. (2011). Evaluación de las propiedades eléctricas de morteros de cemento con puzolanas. Materiales de Construcción. 61(301):7-26. doi:10.3989/mc.2010.53709S7266130

Alkali activated materials based on fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (FCC): Influence ofSiO2/Na2O and H2O/FCC ratio on mechanical strength and microstructure

Reuse of industrial and agricultural wastes as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete and mortar productions contribute to sustainable development. In this context, fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (spent FCC), a byproduct from the petroleum industry and petrol refineries, have been studied as SCM in blended Portland cement in the last years. Nevertheless, another environmental friendly alternative has been conducted in order to produce alternative binders with low CO2 emissions. The use of aluminosilicate materials in the production of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) is an on going research topic which can present low CO2 emissions associated. Hence, this paper studies some variables that can influence the production of AAM based on spent FCC. Specifically, the influence of SiO2/Na2O molar ratio and the H2O/spent FCC mass ratio on the mechanical strength and microstructure are assessed. Some instrumental techniques, such as SEM, XRD, pH and electrical conductivity measurements, and MIP are performed in order to assess the microstructure of formed alkali-activated binder. Alkali activated mortars with compressive strength up to 80 MPa can be formed after curing for 3 days at 65 C. The research demonstrates the potential of spent FCC to produce alkali-activated cements and the importance of SiO2/Na2O molar ratio and the H2O/spent FCC mass ratio in optimising properties and microstructure.Authors would like to thank to the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MICINN) of the Spanish Government (BIA2011-26947) and to FEDER for funding, and also to the PROPG - UNESP "Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho'', Brazil.Mitsuuchi Tashima, M.; Akasaki, JL.; Melges, J.; Soriano Martínez, L.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ.; Borrachero Rosado, MV. (2013). Alkali activated materials based on fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (FCC): Influence ofSiO2/Na2O and H2O/FCC ratio on mechanical strength and microstructure. Fuel. 108:833-839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.02.052S83383910

Effect of mixture proportions on the drying shrinkage and permeation properties of high strength concrete containing class F fly ash

Sustainability of concrete can be improved by using large volume of fly ash as a replacement of cement and by ensuring improved durability of concrete. Durability of concrete containing large volume of class F fly ash is dependent on the design of mixture proportions. This paper presents an experimental study on the effect of mixture proportions on the drying shrinkage and permeation properties of high strength concrete containing large volume local class F fly ash. Concrete mixtures were designed with and without adjustments in the water to binder ratio (w/b) and the total binder content to take into account the incorporation of fly ash up to 40% of total binder. Concretes, in which the mixture proportions were adjusted for fly ash inclusion achieved equivalent strength of the control concrete and showed enhanced properties of drying shrinkage, sorptivity, water permeability and chloride penetration as compared to the control concrete. The improvement of durability properties was less significant when no adjustments were made to the w/b ratio and total binder content. The results show the necessity of the adjustments in mixture proportions of concrete to achieve improved durability properties when using class F fly ash as a cement replacement