Propiedades de pastas de cementos modificados con residuos industriales

Pastas fueron elaboradas reemplazando cemento portland ordinario por caliza de bagazo de agave, ceniza volante, nano-SiO2 geotérmica y humo de sílice. Las pastas fueron curadas a 20ºC y 100% de humedad hasta 28 días. Se les evaluó la resistencia a la compresión, resistencia a la penetración de iones cloruro, porosidad y microestructura. Tras la evaluación, los resultados revelaron que las pastas reemplazadas mostraron una matriz más compacta y menos porosa, valores de resistencia a la compresión de hasta un 45% más, valores de paso de carga de hasta 57% menos, en comparación con las pastas de referencia

Concretos sustentables expuestos a altas temperaturas

Concretos fueron elaborados reemplazando cemento Portland ordinario por nano-SiO2 geotérmica y humo de sílice. Se curaron a 20ºC y 100% de humedad hasta 7 años y después fueron expuestos a altas temperaturas (350°C, 550°C y 750°C). Se les evaluó la velocidad de ultrasonidos (UPV), análisis termogravimétrico/diferencial (TG/DTA), difracción de rayos X (DRX) y microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB). La pérdida de peso y la reducción en la UPV fue mayor para los especímenes adicionados (NSG y HS) en comparación con el espécimen de referencia (CPC 100%), además se apreció una mayor degradación en la microestructura de los especímenes con adiciones

Evaluation of Chloride Diffusion and Corrosion Resistance in Reinforced Concrete Using Internal Curing and Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures

The properties of high-performance concretes obtained by the internal curing technique were studied in the fresh and hardened states. In some of the concrete mixtures, fine normal weight aggregates were replaced with lightweight aggregates (LWA) at 20 % vol. and ordinary portland cement was replaced by pulverized class F fly ash at 20 % by mass. Additionally, some mixtures were prepared including a shrinkage-reducing admixture, either as part of the mixing water or pre-soaked into the lightweight fine aggregates. The prepared concretes were subjected to degradation tests, such as accelerated carbonation and chloride ion deterioration. In addition, the reinforced concretes were analyzed through electrochemical corrosion tests with the linear polarization resistance technique. It was found that the internally cured concretes presented a mechanical resistance similar to those reported for the reference concretes (conventional concretes), but provided a higher resistance to carbonation, rapid penetration of chloride ions, and a lower chloride ion diffusion coefficient. The reinforcing steel structure in the internally cured concretes showed lower corrosion currents (Icorr) and corrosion potentials (Ecorr) in comparison to the reference concretes. Therefore, the use of the internal curing technique in concretes with pre-soaking in either water or a solution of shrinkage-reducing admixture can be considered as a viable alternative to extend the service life of concrete structures in contact with harmful environments

Mortars Modified with Geothermal Nanosilica Waste: Effect on the Electrochemical Properties of Embedded Steel Rods

Nowadays, it is a common practice the incorporation of industrial wastes as alternative materials to replace ordinary Portland cement in the concrete manufacture. This technological implementation has as main objectives, the enhancement of concretes properties as well as mitigation of durability problem related to the corrosion phenomena; in order to increase the service life of reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, in this research was studied the electrochemical properties of black steel embedded in mortars. Mortars were fabricated using as a partial substitute of cement (0, 10, 20 and 30 wt. %) a geothermal nanosilica waste composed of amorphous nanosilica of ~20ηm and chlorides (0 and 0.4 wt. %). Mortars were subjected to a cure at 20°C (80% of relative humidity) and 60ºC (100% of relative humidity). The corrosion behaviour was periodically monitorized up to 65 days using electrochemical techniques of corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (icorr). Values of current density (icorr) were obtained by linear polarization resistance (LPR) technique applying Stern-Geary relation to Rp values. Electrochemical results were validated by comparing with gravimetric losses. The porosity, pH and loss of the evaporated water were also evaluated in mortars. Results obtained showed that the integrity of reinforcement rods was affected with the increase of GNW at high temperatures as well as the total chlorides content in mortars

Effect of the Microstructures Formed in Cements Modified by Limestone Agave Bagasse Ash, Fly Ash, Geothermal Nano-SiO2 Waste and Silica Fume on Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance

In the present work, pastes were fabricated replacing the ordinary portland cement (OPC) by 0, 1.67, 2.5 and 5 wt% of limestone from agave bagasse ash (ABA), fly ash (FA), geothermal nano-SiO2 waste (GNW) and silica fume (SF), using 1.5 wt% of superplasticizer based in carboxylate and a water/binder ratio of 0.45. After fabrication, the pastes were cured at 20ºC and a humidity content of 100% for up to 28 days. The compressive strength, chloride penetration, porosity and microstructural evolution properties were evaluated. The results obtained from the test suggests that the mechanical, electrochemical, physical and microstructural properties resulting from the cured specimens were enhanced, when compared to the cements obtained with pastes composed by 100% of OPC. It was found that the ABA pastes improved by ~15% to ~25% their mechanical resistance, compared with the values obtained for 100% OPC and 5% FA respectively. Additionally, the pastes containing 2.5% of ABA and 2.5% of GNW, showed an increase of 35% in the values of mechanical resistance in comparison to the 100% OPC. It is also worth mentioning that a the pastes experienced a higher densification value, mainly due to the addition of GNW, which promotes the development of a matrix with reduced porosity when compared with values measured at 100% OPC. The chlorine ion penetration ratio had also low values giving an ion penetration resistance around 57 % less. These results revealed that geothermal nano-SiO2 waste (GNW) and limestone of agave bagasse ash (ABA) could be considered as a potentially suitable material for making pastes, mortars and concrete for industrial applications, which will contribute positively to the reduction of the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, as well as decrease the environmental impact generated at the disposal zones

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Efecto de la adición del residuo nanosílice geotérmica sobre la durabilidad de morteros y concretos base cemento portland.

Tesis (Doctor en Ingeniería de Materiales) UANL, 2011.UANLhttp://www.uanl.mx

Worldwide Disparities in Recovery of Cardiac Testing 1 Year Into COVID-19

BACKGROUND The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation