Thermal Evolution of Geopolymer in the Process of High-Temperature Treatment

More and more attention had been given to geopolymers (GPs) over the last decades because of an increasing urgency to search for high-performance and/or environment-friendly alternatives to traditional Portland cement. In addition, geopolymer technology could also provide an innovative approach to prepare advanced ceramic products by overcoming problems faced in the conventional preparation technology. With only the need to go through appropriate thermal treatment procedure, geopolymers could be directly in situ transformed into advanced ceramics such as leucite or pollucite with adjustable microstructures, mechanical properties, coefficient of thermal expansion, and melting points. In the process of high-temperature treatment, multiple parameters, such as the composition of geopolymer, treatment temperature, thermal insulation, etc., would affect the phase composition and microstructure of the resulting products. In the present chapter, two kinds of mixed-alkali metal ion-activated geopolymer systems, Cs(1-x)LixGP (where x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) and Cs(1-x)NaxGP (where x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4), respectively, were designed and prepared. Phase composition, microstructure evolution, and thermal expansion behaviors of the ceramics derived from the geopolymers were characterized and the effects of ion substitution on the thermal evolution of geopolymer were evaluated

In Situ Mineralization of Magnetite Nanoparticles in Chitosan Hydrogel

Based on chelation effect between iron ions and amino groups of chitosan, in situ mineralization of magnetite nanoparticles in chitosan hydrogel under ambient conditions was proposed. The chelation effect between iron ions and amino groups in CS–Fe complex, which led to that chitosan hydrogel exerted a crucial control on the magnetite mineralization, was proved by X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The composition, morphology and size of the mineralized magnetite nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermal gravity. The mineralized nanoparticles were nonstoichiometric magnetite with a unit formula of Fe2.85O4and coated by a thin layer of chitosan. The mineralized magnetite nanoparticles with mean diameter of 13 nm dispersed in chitosan hydrogel uniformly. Magnetization measurement indicated that superparamagnetism behavior was exhibited. These magnetite nanoparticles mineralized in chitosan hydrogel have potential applications in the field of biotechnology. Moreover, this method can also be used to synthesize other kinds of inorganic nanoparticles, such as ZnO, Fe2O3and hydroxyapatite

Composition-dependent structural characteristics and mechanical properties of amorphous SiBCN ceramics by ab-initio calculations

The atomic structural features and the mechanical properties of amorphous silicoboron carbonitride ceramics with 13 different compositions in the Si–BN–C phase diagram are investigated employing ab-initio calculations. Both chemical bonds and local structures within the amorphous network relate to the elemental composition. The distribution of nine types of chemical bonds is composition-dependent, where the B–C, Si–N, Si–C, and B–N bonds hold a large proportion for all compositions. Si prefers to be tetrahedrally coordinated, while B and N prefer sp2-like trigonal coordination. In the case of C, the tetrahedral coordination is predominant at relatively low C contents, while the trigonal coordination is found to be the main feature with the increasing C content. Such local structural characteristics greatly influence the mechanical properties of SiBCN ceramics. Among the studied amorphous ceramics, SiB2C3N2 and SiB3C2N3 with low Si contents and moderate C and/or BN contents have high elastic moduli, high tensile/shear strengths, and good debonding capability. The increment of Si, C, and BN contents on this basis results in the decrease of mechanical properties. The increasing Si content leads to the increment of Si-contained bonds that reduce the bond strength of SiBCN ceramics, while the latter two cases are attributed to the raise of sp2-like trigonal configuration of C and BN. These discoveries are expected to guide the composition-tailored optimization of SiBCN ceramics

The Effect of Si/Al on Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Stainless Steel Mesh/Crp Reinforced Geopolymer Composites

In this study, a series stainless steel mesh/Crp reinforced geopolymer composites with different Si/Al molar ratio (N) were designed and prepared, where N = 1.75, 2 and 2.25, respectively. The effect of Si/Al molar ratio in the geopolymer matrix on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of the geopolymer composites were investigated. The microstructure of geopolymer became more compact when Si/Al increased from 1.75 to 2, which was beneficial to the improvement of geopolymer’s mechanical properties. And continuing to rise to 2.25 for Si/Al, the completely curing of geopolymer composites required more time compared with lower Si/Al, which can be attributed to the different microstructure and chemical composition caused by the different Si/Al. The optimum Si/Al molar ratio was about 2 at which the composites samples present the best mechanical properties with the flexure strength of 115.3 MPa and elastic modulus of 11.0 GPa, respectively. The results of fracture behavior suggested that geopolymer composites with N is 2.25 displayed the behavior characteristics of metal materials, which can be attributed to a poor integrated condition in interface between reinforcements and geopolymer matrix

The Effect of Si/Al on Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Stainless Steel Mesh/Cr

In this study, a series stainless steel mesh/Crp reinforced geopolymer composites with different Si/Al molar ratio (N) were designed and prepared, where N = 1.75, 2 and 2.25, respectively. The effect of Si/Al molar ratio in the geopolymer matrix on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of the geopolymer composites were investigated. The microstructure of geopolymer became more compact when Si/Al increased from 1.75 to 2, which was beneficial to the improvement of geopolymer’s mechanical properties. And continuing to rise to 2.25 for Si/Al, the completely curing of geopolymer composites required more time compared with lower Si/Al, which can be attributed to the different microstructure and chemical composition caused by the different Si/Al. The optimum Si/Al molar ratio was about 2 at which the composites samples present the best mechanical properties with the flexure strength of 115.3 MPa and elastic modulus of 11.0 GPa, respectively. The results of fracture behavior suggested that geopolymer composites with N is 2.25 displayed the behavior characteristics of metal materials, which can be attributed to a poor integrated condition in interface between reinforcements and geopolymer matrix

Enhanced mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of Si2BC3N ceramics with SiC coated MWCNTs

Abstract Bulk Si2BC3N ceramics were reinforced with SiC coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The phase compositions, mechanical properties, and thermal shock resistance, as well as the oxidation resistance of the designed Si2BC3N ceramics were comparatively investigated. The results show that nano SiC coating can be formed on MWCNTs through pyrolyzing polysilazane, which improves the oxidation resistance of MWCNTs. A stronger chemical bonding is formed between the SiC coated MWCNTs and SiC particles, contributing to improved flexural strength (532.1 MPa) and fracture toughness (6.66 MPa·m1/2). Besides, the 2 vol% SiC coated MWCNTs reinforced Si2BC3N ceramics maintains much higher residual strength (193.0 MPa) after thermal shock test at 1000 °C. The enhanced properties should be attributed to: (1) the breaking of MWCNTs and the debonding between MWCNTs and SiC interfaces, which leads to more energy dissipation; (2) the rough surfaces of SiC coated MWCNTs increase the adhesion strength during the “pull out” of MWCNTs