Combination of polymeric superplasticizers, water repellents and pozzolanic agents to improve air lime-based grouts for historic masonry repair

This paper presents the experimental procedure to develop air lime-based injection grouts including polymeric superplasticizers, a water repellent agent and pozzolanic agents as additives. Research focuses on the development of grouts to improve various characteristics simultaneously combining different additions and admixtures. Aiming to improve the injectability of the grouts, in this study different polymeric superplasticizers were added, namely polycarboxylated-ether derivative (PCE), polynaphthalene sulfonate (PNS) and condensate of melamine-formaldehyde sulfonate (SMFC). Sodium oleate was also used as a water repellent agent to reduce the water absorption. The enhancement of the strength and setting time was intended by using microsilica and metakaolin as pozzolanic mineral additions. Compatibility between the different admixtures and action mechanism of the different polymers were studied by means of zeta potential and adsorption isotherms measurements. Diverse grout mixtures were produced and investigated assessing their injectability, fluidity, stability, compressive strength, hydrophobicity and durability. This research leads to several suitable mixtures produced by using more than one component to enhance efficiency and to provide better performance of grouts. According to the results, the grout composed of air lime, metakaolin, sodium oleate and PCE was found the most effective composition improving the mechanical strength, injectability and hydrophobicity

Comparison of Bond Character in Hydrocarbons and Fullerenes

We present a comparison of the bond polarizabilities for carbon-carbon bonds in hydrocarbons and fullerenes, using two different models for the fullerene Raman spectrum and the results of Raman measurements on ethane and ethylene. We find that the polarizabilities for single bonds in fullerenes and hydrocarbons compare well, while the double bonds in fullerenes have greater polarizability than in ethylene.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, uses RevTeX. (To appear in Phys. Rev. B.

On the Potential for Interim Storage in Dense Phase CO2 Pipelines

This paper investigates the flexibility that exists within a dense phase carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline system to accommodate upset conditions in the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) network by utilising the pipeline as a storage vessel whilst still maintaining flow into the pipeline. This process is defined in the pipeline industry as “line-packing” and the time available to undertake line-packing is termed the line-packing time. The longer the line-packing time, the more resilient the pipeline system is to flow variations or short term operational issues at the capture or storage site. The aims of the study were; to investigate the impact of typical CO2 pipeline design parameters (diameter, wall thickness and length) as well as CO2 mass flow rate and pipeline inlet and outlet pressure on the available line-packing time and; to derive relationships between the key variables to allow designers to optimise the line-packing time for a pipeline system. The study was undertaken by developing a viable study set of dense phase CO2 pipelines using steady state hydraulic analysis and stress based design principles. The study set was designed to cover the range of design parameters, flow rates and pressures considered to be typical of dense phase pipelines in CCS systems. For each of the pipelines in the study set, the line-packing time was calculated using a transient hydraulic analysis approach. Although by interrogating the results, individual relationships could be identified between key input parameters and the line-packing time, the integration of all of the critical parameters could not be achieved through simple regression analysis techniques. Consequently, using the dataset of pipelines and line-packing times developed, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was designed to enable a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the line-packing time to the input data to be conducted. It is also demonstrated how the ANN can be used as a design tool for the prediction of line-packing time. As would be expected, the line-packing capacity of the pipeline can be increased by increasing the available internal volume of the pipeline, reducing the mass flow rate into the pipeline, increasing the allowable operating stress and managing the inlet pressure and outlet pressures. However, one of the key findings of the work is that, in the dense phase, line-packing times of only up to 8 hours can be achieved for pipeline dimensions typical of those considered for CCS schemes. Consequently it has been confirmed that the pipeline does not represent a long-term storage option for CCS systems. However, if line-packing capability is considered at the design stage then the level of flexibility for the pipeline to act as short-term storage in the network increases. In particular, it is recommended that the effect of increasing the wall thickness on the line-packing time is considered at the design stage to determine the benefits of this option in enabling the pipeline to be used as a short-term storage option in the CCS system and prevent venting of CO2 during short-term outage events at the capture or storage site

Morteros de relleno para restauración de patrimonio cultural, con base cal con adición puzolánica y diversos aditivos

Los morteros de relleno o inyección, especialmente destinados a reparación de cavidades y defectos de albañilería, deben fluir adecuadamente en estado fresco y combinar resistencia y durabilidad. Para conseguir algunas de estas características pueden utilizarse aditivos químicos: superplastificantes, para mejorar la fluidez; adiciones puzolánicas, para conseguir resistencias adecuadas en ambientes con limitado acceso de CO2 y una mejora de la durabilidad; e hidrofugantes, de manera que, sin perjudicar la permeabilidad de estos materiales al vapor de agua, se evite la penetración de agua por capilaridad mejorando la durabilidad. Sin embargo, en la mayor parte de los casos, toda la información disponible se circunscribe al efecto de un único aditivo, sin contemplar el posible efecto conjunto o incluso sinérgico de las combinaciones más interesantes de dos o más aditivos y/o adiciones puzolánicas. El estudio de las sinergias entre estos componentes ofrece posibilidades muy interesantes de avance científico-técnico. Precisamente este es el objetivo del trabajo: diseño de nuevos morteros de inyección de cal que puedan ser utilizados para la restauración del Patrimonio Edificado mediante combinación adecuada de aditivos superplastificantes (éteres de policarboxilato, condensados de naftaleno-formaldehído, sulfonato de melamina y ácido poliacrílico), hidrofugante (oleato sódico) y adiciones minerales puzolánicas (microsílice y metacaolín)

First measurement of the CP-violating phase in B0s→J/ψ( → e+e−)ϕ decays

A flavour-tagged time-dependent angular analysis of B0 s → J/ψφ decays is presented where the J/ψ meson is reconstructed through its decay to an e +e − pair. The analysis uses a sample of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1 . The CP-violating phase and lifetime parameters of the B0 s system are measured to be φs = 0.00 ± 0.28 ± 0.05 rad, ∆Γs = 0.115 ± 0.045 ± 0.011 ps−1 and Γs = 0.608 ± 0.018 ± 0.011 ps−1 where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first time that CP-violating parameters are measured in the B0 s → J/ψφ decay with an e +e − pair in the final state. The results are consistent with previous measurements in other channels and with the Standard Model predictions

A personalized intervention to prevent depression in primary care: cost-effectiveness study nested into a clustered randomized trial

Background: Depression is viewed as a major and increasing public health issue, as it causes high distress in the people experiencing it and considerable financial costs to society. Efforts are being made to reduce this burden by preventing depression. A critical component of this strategy is the ability to assess the individual level and profile of risk for the development of major depression. This paper presents the cost-effectiveness of a personalized intervention based on the risk of developing depression carried out in primary care, compared with usual care. Methods: Cost-effectiveness analyses are nested within a multicentre, clustered, randomized controlled trial of a personalized intervention to prevent depression. The study was carried out in 70 primary care centres from seven cities in Spain. Two general practitioners (GPs) were randomly sampled from those prepared to participate in each centre (i.e. 140 GPs), and 3326 participants consented and were eligible to participate. The intervention included the GP communicating to the patient his/her individual risk for depression and personal risk factors and the construction by both GPs and patients of a psychosocial programme tailored to prevent depression. In addition, GPs carried out measures to activate and empower the patients, who also received a leaflet about preventing depression. GPs were trained in a 10- to 15-h workshop. Costs were measured from a societal and National Health care perspective. Qualityadjustedlife years were assessed using the EuroQOL five dimensions questionnaire. The time horizon was 18 months. Results: With a willingness-to-pay threshold of (sic)10, 000 ((sic)8568) the probability of cost-effectiveness oscillated from 83% (societal perspective) to 89% (health perspective). If the threshold was increased to (sic)30, 000 ((sic)25, 704), the probability of being considered cost-effective was 94% (societal perspective) and 96%, respectively (health perspective). The sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Conclusions: Compared with usual care, an intervention based on personal predictors of risk of depression implemented by GPs is a cost-effective strategy to prevent depression. This type of personalized intervention in primary care should be further developed and evaluated

Active photocatalytic-superhydrophobic coating with TiO2-ZnO nano-heterostructures for lime mortars

Nano-heterostructures of TiO2-ZnO (50:50 and 10:90) were obtained by Flame Spray Pyrolisis as photocatalytic agents with expanded sensitivity towards solar light, instead of the restricted UV dependence of the pure TiO2 or ZnO. A superhydrophobic medium was simultaneously prepared and photocatalytic nanoparticles were added to obtain active coatings to be applied onto hardened surfaces of lime rendering and masonry mortars and stones. The coatings were expected to prevent the water absorption of the substrates and the subsequent degradation effects as well as to act as self-cleaning materials, reducing the dirt deposition and the biological colonization. Dispersions were applied onto the surface of lime mortars and siliceous stone. Measurements of the photocatalytic oxidation activity of the coatings were carried out by means of the NO degradation, showing a very good efficiency of the nanoparticles even at long term tests (values of NO oxidation of ca. 35 %). Water contact angle assessment evidenced a strong hydrophobization of the treated surfaces, with WCA values higher than 140°. The results proved the synergistic effect of these coatings with respect to the durability of the treated substrates

Lime-based rendering mortars with photocatalytic and hydrophobic agents: assessment of the water repellency and biocide effect

Different rendering mortars were prepared by mixing air lime and air lime-pozzolanic nanosilica with TiO2 and sodium oleate as, respectively, photocatalytic and water repellent agents, added in bulk. The aim of the work was to design and obtain new rendering mortars with improved durability focusing in the reduction of the water absorption of these materials and in their self-cleaning and biocide effect. To achieve a better distribution of the TiO2 particles, which was expected to enhance their efficiency, different dispersing agents were also incorporated to the fresh mixtures. Four diverse polycarboxylate ethers superplasticizers and a poly-naphthalene-sulfonate were tested. Workability and fluidity of the fresh rendering mortars were determined to guarantee the applicability of the final products. Water contact angle was monitored with the aim of assessing the hydrophobicity of the mortars lent by the water repeller. The biocide effect was studied by means of the culture of a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. The colonization of the mortars’ surface was analyzed by determining the number of colonies forming units (CFU) after several days subjecting the samples to suitable T and RH conditions. At the same time, the surface of the mortars was irradiated with solar light to activate the photocatalyst. Results showed the efficiency of the sodium oleate in reducing the water uptake of the rendering mortars. Good compatibility between the water repellent agent, the pozzolanic additive and some of the polycarboxylate superplasticizers was observed. The presence of the photocatalyst was found to be very effective in preventing microbiological colonization

Influence of two polymer-based superplasticizers (poly-naphthalene sulfonate, PNS, and lignosulfonate, LS) on compressive and flexural strength, freeze-thaw, and sulphate attack resistance of lime-metakaolin grouts

A new range of grouts prepared by air lime and metakaolin (MK) as a pozzolanic admixture has been obtained by using as dispersing agents two polymers, namely poly-naphthalene sulfonate (PNS) and lignosulfonate (LS), with the aim of improving the fluidity of the fresh grouts. Fluidity and setting times of the grouts were assessed. Differences in the molecular architecture and in the anionic charge density explained the different adsorption of the polymers and the different performance. The higher anionic charge of PNS and its linear shape explained its better adsorption and effectiveness. The pozzolanic reaction was favoured in grouts with PNS, achieving the highest values of compressive strength (4.8 MPa after 182 curing days). The addition of PNS on lime grouts slightly decreased the frost resistance of the grouts (from 24 freeze-thaw cycles for the polymer-free samples to 19 or 20 cycles with 0.5 or 1 wt % of PNS). After the magnesium sulphate attack, grouts were altered by decalcification of hydrated phases and by formation of hexahydrite and gypsum. A protective role of portlandite against magnesium sulphate attack was clearly identified. Accordingly, the polymer LS, which preserves a significant amount of Ca(OH)2, could be an alternative for the obtaining of grouts requiring high sulphate attack resistance