Self-Immobilizing Metals Binder for Construction Made of Activated Metallurgical Slag, Slag from Lignite Coal Combustion and Ash from Biomass Combustion

Research on the effective use of secondary products is gaining more and more importance in Poland due to the intensively implementing idea of the circular economy. The solution used in this work are one of many tests useful in construction. The subject of this work was therefore the formation and testing of a new ecological construction binder, in particular for mortars or prefabricated elements working in the environment with high humidity. The binder was made of alkaline activated ground granular blast furnace slag (AAS), fly ash from biomass combustion (BFA) and furnace slag from brown coal combustion (LFS). The mixture was modified by introducing the zeolite to check the degree of metals immobilization contained in the ingredients of the mixture. A series of three mixtures were prepared: without and with zeolite soaked in distilled water or calcium nitrate. The strength of binders in time in dry and wet curing were tested and compared with the microstructure. The maximum compressive strength values at the eighth week were about 30 MPa. The strength values after 4 weeks of dry and wet curing were also compared. It was shown that 28-day wet curing increased the bending strength of the beams more than twice, but slightly decreased the compressive strength. The microstructure of the mixture with the highest values of compressive strength was the densest and the one with the lowest values of compressive strength, the most loosened with the most differentiated topographically fracture. The impregnation of zeolite with calcium nitrate decreased the compressive strength of the binder significantly. The bending strength of samples curing in dry conditions decreased during hardening. The results of the metals leaching test showed that the mixtures were safe for the environment, and due to the impregnation of zeolite with calcium nitrate, the binding effect of copper and zinc in the first weeks was greater than in the other mixtures

Laboratory Test and Geochemical Modeling of Cement Paste Degradation, in Contact with Ammonium Chloride Solution

Concrete tanks, in coke wastewater treatment plants, are exposed to aggressive wastewater with high ammonium and chloride content, deteriorating the concrete binder. Due to this, toxic compounds may migrate to the environment. The results of the experimental work presented confirmed the changes in the phase, microstructure and concentration of chlorides caused by the penetration of NH4Cl into the hardened cement paste in dry conditions. Geochemical modeling of the interactions between the aggressive solution, the cement stone matrix and the pore water was performed in order to track the destruction process effects. The results are useful for condition assessment of the structures operating under occasional immersion

Chloride ions action on decalcifing cement paste

The paper presents the problem of progress diffusion of chloride ions into the hydrated cement paste with simultaneously changing of discontinuities and crystalline phases’ amount depending on the distance from the external layer of the sample as a result of interaction mechanism of ammonium chloride with the paste. Experience confirmed the disappearance of lime phases of the hydrated cement paste and capillaries widening during NH4Cl diffusion. Friedel’s salt, formed before, and constituting a buffer before reinforcement corrosion, also dissolved during process of pH lowering. The described corrosion process is rapid due to the releasing of ammonia gas from the reaction medium

On the mechanism of damage to the microstructure of the cement matrix of concrete in industrial liquid waste treatment structures

Trwałość betonu żelbetowych zbiorników oczyszczalni ścieków jest obniżana wieloma czynnikami - fizycznymi, chemicznymi i biologicznymi. W wodach poprodukcyjnych zakładów koksowniczych i zakładów sztucznych nawozów azotowych występują między innymi duże ilości jonów chlorkowych (CI-) i amonowych (NH4+). Zestaw tych jonów stanowi szczególnie niebezpieczne środowiska dla budowli żelbetawych. W artykule opisano mechanizmy uszkodzenia mikrostruktury matrycy cementowej spowodowane takimi właśnie czynnikami.The durability of the concrete in reinforced-concrete tanks in liquid waste treatment facilities is reduced by many factors - physical, chemical and biological. In the waste water produced by coke plants and artificial nitrate fertilizer factories, there occur (among others) large quantities of chloride (CI) and ammonium [NH4) ions. The combination of these ions produces a particularly dangerous environment for reinforced-concrete structures. This paper describes the mechanisms of damage to the microstructure of the cement matrix caused by such factors

Changes of the cement paste structure under decalcification

Przedstawiono zmiany struktury zaczynu z cementu portlandzkiego zwykłego zachodzące wskutek działania chlorku amonu, który wchodzi w skład ścieków zakładów koksochemicznych. Działanie agresywne nasyconego roztworu NH4Cl trwało 25 dób. Badania rentgenowskie składu fazowego wskazały zanikanie portlandytu przy brzegu próbki. Wywołane ubytkiem portlandytu nieciągłości struktury określono na podstawie obserwacji zgładu w elektronowym mikroskopie skaningowym (SEM) oraz stosując metodę analizy obrazu.The changes of ordinary Portland cement paste structure caused by interaction with ammonium chloride solution, which is present in coke sewage, are described. The aggressive immersion of specimen lasted for 25 days into saturated solution of NH4Cl. The X-ray examinations of phase composition pointed at portlandite decrease and its disappearance at the edge of the specimen. Discontinuities of the cement paste matrix caused by the portlandite amount changes determined from the polished section observations into scanning electron microscope using backscattered electrons with application of image analysis

Analysis of the Degradation Process of Sand-Lime Plasters Under the Impact of Crystallization Pressure

A masonry basement wall was heavily dampened due to the lack of waterproofing in the ground contact area. Internal sand-lime wall plaster samples were subjected to chemical, physical and strength tests. The main phases of the damaged plaster were quartz and calcite. A measuring method of the tensile strength of plasters was proposed. A polar-symmetric deformation problem of a thick-walled spherical tank, allowing for the estimation of circumferential stresses in the spherical model was used for the analysis. It was found that the same values of porosity correspond to identical values of circumferential stresses, regardless of the values of the radii of the analyzed model. Thus the purpose of the presented research was to demonstrate that the mentioned dependence applied in the adopted model may be useful for the analysis of problems involving the resistance of internal plaster structure to the expansion caused by crystallization pressure

Multicomponent Low Initial Molar Ratio of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ Geopolymer Mortars: Pilot Research

Alkali-activated binders have the potential to consume various types of waste materials. Low initial molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 geopolymer mortars were considered in this article. Here we studied alkali-activated binders produced with photovoltaic glass powder in 5%; kaolin clay in 15%; ground granulated blast furnace slag in 30%; alumina-lime cement in 30%; and, interchangeably, fly ash from coal combustion in 5%, fly ash from biomass combustion in 5%, or granulated autoclaved cellular concrete in 5%. The influence of clay dehydroxylation, curing conditions, glass presence, and a kind of waste material was investigated. According to the experimental results, strength (compressive and tensile) gradually increased with increasing time and with the use of calcined clay. Significant improvement in compressive strength was seen with the additional 3 days curing time in 105 °C when non-sintered clay was used. The presence of photovoltaic glass in alkali-activated mortars immobilised mercury and arsenic but released zinc, chromium, and sulphates. The microscopic observations confirmed the greater densification of the microstructure of the binder made of calcined clay due to its greater surface development and dehydroxylation. The binder of non-calcined clay was granular, and the interfacial transitional zone was more porous. The C–A–S–H gel seemed to be the main phase. XRD examination confirmed the presence of C–A–S–H, C–S–H, zeolites, and many other phases in minor amount. The presented research was a pilot study, and its main goal was to develop it further

Concrete Examination of 100-Year-Old Bridge Structure above the Kłodnica River Flowing through the Agglomeration of Upper Silesia in Gliwice: A Case Study

The article analyzes the composition of concrete taken from various elements from a 100-year-old bridge in South Poland, so as to analyze its technical condition. The main methods applied during experimental work were: Designation of pH, free chloride content, salinity, XRD and SEM examinations, as well as metals determination using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP­MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-ICP-MS, and cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS). The concrete of the bridge was strongly carbonated and decalcified with an extremely high content of chlorides. The pH of the concrete was in a range from 10.5 to 12.0. Acid soluble components were between 9.9% and 17.6%. Typical sulfate corrosion phases of concrete were not detected. Friedels’ salt was found only at the extremity of an arch. The crown block was corroded to the greatest extent. Various heavy metals were absorbed into the concrete, likely from previous centuries, when environmental protection policy was poor. The applied research methodology can be used on bridges exposed to specific external influences. The acquired knowledge can be useful in the management processes of the bridge infrastructure. It can help in making decisions about decommissioning or extending the life cycle of the bridge. This work should also sensitize researchers and decision-makers to the context of “bridge safety”