Evolution of Biofilm and Its Effect on Microstructure of Mortar Surfaces in Simulated Seawater

To explore the role of biofilm formation on the corrosion of marine concrete structures, we investigated the attachment of biofilm on mortar surfaces in simulated seawater and the influence of biofilm on the microstructure of mortar surfaces. The results show that the evolution of biofilm on mortar surfaces in simulated seawater is closely related to the corrosion suffered by the mortar, and the process of biofilm attachment and shedding is continuous and cyclical. It is found that the specimens in the absence of biofilm attachment are more severely eroded internally by the corrosive medium in simulated seawater than those in the presence of biofilm attachment. For the specimens without biofilm attachment, after 60 days, gypsum forms,and after 120 days, the number of pores in the mortar is reduced. In contrast, for the specimens in the presence of biofilm attachment, gypsum could only be detected after 90 days, and fewer pores are filled. Therefore, the formation of biofilm could delay the invasion of the corrosive medium into the interior of mortar during the evolution of biofilm on mortar surfaces, mitigating the corrosion of mortars in seawater.

An Investigation into the Performances of Cement Mortar Incorporating Superabsorbent Polymer Synthesized with Kaolin

Cement-based materials are fundamental in the construction industry,and enhancing their properties is an ongoing challenge.The use of superabsorbent polymers(SAP)has gained significant attention as a possible way to improve the performance of cement-based materials due to their unique water-absorption and retention properties.This study investigates the multifaceted impact of kaolin intercalation-modified superabsorbent polymers(K-SAP)on the properties of cement mortar.The results show that K-SAP significantly affects the cement mortar’s rheological behavior,with distinct phases of water absorption and release,leading to changes in workability over time.Furthermore,K-SAP alters the hydration kinetics,delaying the exothermic peak of hydration and subsequently modifying the heat release kinetics.Notably,K-SAP effectively maintains a higher internal relative humidity within the mortar,reducing the autogenous shrinkage behavior.Moreover,K-SAP can have a beneficial effect on pore structure and this can be ascribed to the internal curing effect of released water from K-SAP.

Influence of Recycled Concrete Fine Powder on Durability of Cement Mortar

In this paper,the durability of cement mortar prepared with a recycled-concrete fine powder(RFP)was examined;including the analysis of a variety of aspects,such as the carbonization,sulfate attack and chloride ion erosion resistance.The results indicate that the influence of RFP on these three aspects is different.The carbonization depth after 30 days and the chloride diffusion coefficient of mortar containing 10%RFP decreased by 13.3%and 28.19%.With a further increase in the RFP content,interconnected pores formed between the RFP particles,leading to an acceleration of the penetration rate of CO_(2)and Cl^(−).When the RFP content was less than 50%,the corrosion resistance coefficient of the compressive strength of the mortar was 0.84-1.05 after 90 days of sulfate attack.But the expansion and cracking of the mortar was effectively alleviated due to decrease of the gypsum production.Scanning electron microscope(SEM)analysis has confirmed that 10%RFP contributes to the formation of a dense microstructure in the cement mortar.

Analysis of Calcined Red Mud Properties and Related Mortar Performances

Red mud(RM)is a low-activity industrial solid waste,and its utilization as a resource is currently a hot topic.In this study,the micro characteristics of red mud at different calcination temperatures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.The performance of calcined red mud was determined through mortar strength tests.Results indicate that high-temperature calcination can change the mineral composition and microstructure of red mud,and increase the surface roughness and specific surface area.At the optimal temperature of 700°C,the addition of calcined red mud still leads to a decrease in mortar strength,but its activity index and flexural coefficient increase by 16.2%and 11.9%with respect to uncalcined red mud,reaching values of 0.826 and 0.974,respectively.Compared with the control group,the synergistic activation of calcined red mud with slag can increase the compressive and flexural strength of the mortar by 12.9%and 1.5%,reaching 8.7 and 62.4 MPa,respectively.Correspondingly,the activity index and flexural coefficient of the calcined RM and GGBS(Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag)mixtures also increase to 1.015 and 1.130,respectively.

Effect of Partial Replacement of Fly Ash by Decoration Waste Powder on the Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Masonry Mortar

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using decoration waste powder(DWP)as a partial replacement for fly ash(FA)in the preparation of geopolymer masonry mortar,and to examine the effect of different DWP replacement rates(0%-40%)on the fresh and mechanical properties of the mortar.The results showed that each group of geopolymer masonry mortar exhibited excellent water retention performance,with a water retention rate of 100%,which was due to the unique geopolymer mortar system and high viscosity of the alkaline activator solution.Compared to the control group,the flowability of the mortar containing lower contents of DWP(10%and 20%)was higher.However,as the DWP replacement rate further increased,the flowability gradually decreased.The DWP could absorb the free water in the reaction system of geopolymer mortar,thereby limiting the occurrence of geopolymerization reaction.The incorporation of DWP in the mortar resulted in a decrease in compressive strength compared to the mortar without DWP.However,even at a replacement rate of 40%,the compressive strength of the mortar still exceeded 15 MPa,which met the requirements of the masonry mortar.It was feasible to use DWP in the geopolymer masonry mortar.Although the addition of DWP caused some performance loss,it did not affect its usability.

Study on physical and mechanical properties of cement asphalt emulsified mortar under track slab

Purpose–During the construction process of the China Railway Track System(CRTS)I type filling layer,the nonwoven fabric bags have been used as grouting templates for cement asphalt(CA)emulsified mortar.The porous structure of nonwoven fabrics endowed the templates with breathability and water permeability.The standard requires that the volume expansion rate of CA mortar must be controlled within 1%–3%,which can generate expansion pressure to ensure that the cavities under track slabs are filled fully.However,the expansion pressure caused some of the water to seep out from the periphery of the filling bag,and it would affect the actual mix proportion of CA mortar.The differences in physical and mechanical properties between the CA mortar under track slabs and the CA mortar formed in the laboratory were studied in this paper.The relevant results could provide important methods for the research of filling layer materials for CRTS I type and other types of ballastless tracks in China.Design/methodology/approach–During the inspection of filling layer,the samples of CA mortar from different working conditions and raw materials were taken by uncovering the track slabs and drilling cores.The physical and mechanical properties of CA mortar under the filling layer of the slab were systematically analyzed by testing the electrical flux,compressive strength and density of mortar in different parts of the filling layer.Findings–In this paper,the electric flux,the physical properties and mechanical properties of different parts of CA mortar under the track slab were investigated.The results showed that the density,electric flux and compressive strength of CA mortar were affected by the composition of raw materials for dry powders and different parts of the filling layer.In addition,the electrical flux of CA mortar gradually decreased within 90 days’age.The electrical flux of samples with the thickness of 54 mm was lower than 500 C.Therefore,the impermeability and durability of CA mortar could be improved by increasing the thickness of filling layer.Besides,the results showed that the compressive strength of CA mortar increased,while the density and electric flux decreased gradually,with the prolongation of hardening time.Originality/value–During 90 days’age,the electrical flux of the CA mortar gradually decreased with the increase of specimen thickness and the electrical flux of the specimens with the thickness of 54 mm was lower than 500 C.The impermeability and durability of the CA mortar could be improved by increasing the thickness of filling layer.The proposed method can provide reference for the further development and improvement of CRTS I and CRTS II type ballastless track in China.

Influence of Ultra Fine Glass Powder on the Properties and Microstructure of Mortars

This study focuses on the effect of ultrafine waste glass powder on cement strength,gas permeability and pore structure.Varying contents were considered,with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 20μm.Moreover,alkali activation was considered to ameliorate the reactivity and cementitious properties,which were assessed by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),and specific surface area pore size distribution analysis.According to the results,without the addition of alkali activators,the performance of glass powder mortar decreases as the amount of glass powder increases,affecting various aspects such as strength and resistance to gas permeability.Only 5%glass powder mortar demonstrated a compressive strength at 60 days higher than that of the control group.However,adding alkali activator(CaO)during hydration ameliorated the hydration environment,increased the alkalinity of the composite system,activated the reactivity of glass powder,and enhanced the interaction of glass powder and pozzolanic reaction.In general,compared to ordinary cement mortar,alkali-activated glass powder mortar produces more hydration products,showcases elevated density,and exhibits improved gas resistance.Furthermore,alkali-activated glass powder mortar demonstrates an improvement in performance across various aspects as the content increases.At a substitution rate of 15%,the glass powder mortar reaches its optimal levels of strength and resistance to gas permeability,with a compressive strength increase ranging from 28.4%to 34%,and a gas permeation rate reduction between 51.8%and 66.7%.

Substitution of Aggregates in Concrete and Mortar with Coltan Mining Waste: Mechanical, Environmental, and Economic Impact Case Study

The mining process involves drilling and excavation, resulting in the production of waste rock and tailings. The waste materials are then removed and stored in designated areas. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical strength and the environmental and economic impact of using Coltan Mining Waste (CMW) as a substitute for aggregates in concrete and mortar production. To achieve this, the CMW needs to be characterised. The Dreux Gorisse method was primarily used to produce concrete with a strength of 20 MPa at 28 days. The mortars, on the other hand, were formulated according to the NF P 18-452 standard. The environmental impact of using CMW as substitutes for natural aggregates in the production of concrete and mortar was analysed using SimaPro software. The results showed that mortars and concrete made with CMW have comparable compressive strengths to the reference mortar and concrete;reduce the negative impact on ecosystem quality, human health, resources, and climate change. It has also been shown that the substitution of aggregates by CMW reduces the cost of concrete and mortar as a function of the distance from the aggregate footprint.

Research Analysis on the Microscopic Properties and Damping Performance of Carbon Nanomaterial-Modified Cement Mortar

The application of carbon nanomaterials, particularly graphene and carbon nanotubes, in cement-based composites is highly significant. These materials demonstrate the multifunctionality of carbon and offer extensive possibilities for technological advancements. This research analyzes how the integration of graphene into cement-based composites enhances damping and mechanical properties, thereby contributing to the safety and durability of structures. Research on carbon nanomaterials is ongoing and is expected to continue driving innovation across various industrial sectors, promoting the sustainable development of building materials.

The Effect of Graphene Oxide on Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar

Cement is widely used in engineering applications,but it has both the characteristics of high brittleness and poor bending resistance.In this paper,the effects of different amounts ofgraphene oxide on the flexural strength and compressive strength of cement mortar were studied by doping a certain amount of graphene oxide with cement mortar,and the strengthening mechanism of graphene oxide on cement mortar was obtained through microstructure detection.It is found that graphene oxide has a significant enhancement effect on the macroscopic mechanical properties of cement mortar,and graphene oxide provides nano-nucleation sites and growth templates for cement mortar,accelerates the hydration process,reduces the voids between hydration products,greatly increases the compactness,and improves the macroscopic properties of cement-based materials.

Effects of Cationic Surfactant on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Cement-Based Mortar

The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of using surfactant(CTAB)and cellulose nanofibers(NFC)as an admixture in cement mortars.We examined composite properties as porosity,compression energy,thermal conductivity and hydration.The results showed that with the addition of 0.7%by weight of NFC per emulsion in the presence of a cationic surfactant(CTAB).The new material produced presented a dry porosity between 4.7%and 4.4%,compressive strength between 9.8 and 22.9 MPa,and thermal conductivity between 0.95 and 2.25 W·m^(−1)·K^(−1).Thus we show better mechanical and thermal performance than that traditional Portland cement mortar with a density similar.In addition,the mortar made by emulsion of ordinary portland cement,cellulose nanofiber and organophilic clay(OC)treated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB)obtained has good resistance under high temperature and water,as well as excellent thermal insulation performance under high temperature and humidity conditions.This study verified that the presence of NFC promotes hydration,leading to the production of more calcium silicate and portlandite gel.

Effect of Dry-Wet Cycles on the Transport and Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar Subjected to Sulfate Attack

This study deals with the analysis of the detrimental effects of a“sulfate attack”on cement mortar for different dry-wet cycles.The mass loss,tensile strength,and gas permeability coefficient were determined and analyzed under different exposure conditions.At the same time,nitrogen adsorption(NAD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD)techniques were used to analyze the corresponding variations in the microstructure and the corrosion products.The results show that certain properties of the cement mortar evolve differently according to the durations of the dry-wet cycles and that some damage is caused to the mortars in aqueous solution.The pores fill with corrosion products,increasing the mortar specimen mass and tensile strength while reducing the permeability coefficient and pore size distribution.As corrosion proceeds,the crystallization pressure of the corrosion products increases,resulting in a 16%reduction in tensile strength from the initial value and a 2.6-factor increase in the permeability coefficient,indicating sensitivity to sulfate attack damage.Furthermore,the main corrosion products generated in the experiment are gypsum and ettringite.Application of osmotic pressure and extension of the immersion time can accelerate the erosion process.

Strain Rate Effect of AE Characteristics in the Whole Process of Uniaxial Tensile of Mortar

We completed the uniaxial tensile test of mortar in the range of strain rate from 10^(-6)to 10^(-4)s^(-1)in the section containing softening,and carried out acoustic emission monitoring(AE)simultaneously.A series of AE parameters and spectrum analysis methods were used to identify the damage evolution process and cracking mechanism of mortar at different strain rates.The results show that,with the increase of strain rate,the peak stress and tensile elastic modulus of mortar increase obviously,and the stress level corresponding to the starting point of AE activity increases significantly as well,which indicates that the mechanical properties and AE characteristics of mortar have obvious strain rate effect.With the increase of strain rate,the cumulative AE hit decreases gradually,while the average AE hit rate increases significantly,indicating that the increase of strain rate reduces the damage degree of internal microstructure of the specimen,but the crack propagation speed increases.In the pre-peak stress stage,the average of AE ringing count and signal energy decreases with the increase of strain rate,while the average of duration increases;in the post-peak stress stage(f_(t)-30%f_(t)),the average of the three AE parameters all increase with the increase of strain rate,indicating that the strain rate effect on the damage process of mortar is different before and after peak stress,and the damage mechanism represented by different parameters is also different.In the whole process of uniaxial tensile of mortar,with the increase of strain rate,the scatter distribution of AE frequency-amplitude becomes more discrete,and the b-value shows a decreasing trend.In addition,the average level of AE peak frequency decreases with the increase of strain rate,while that of ca8 band wavelet energy spectrum coefficient increases.It is indicated that the increase of strain rate enables the crack propagation state of mortar specimen to become unstable,and the width of macrocrack increases but the proportion decreases.

Chloride Corrosion of Reinforced Calcium Aluminate Cement Mortar

This paper describes a study on the corrosion behavior of steel reinforcement in CAC mortars via electrochemical methods including corrosion potential,electrochemical impedance,and linear polarization evaluation.Results indicate that there is a non-linear relationship between the corrosion degree of steel reinforcement in CAC mortar and the concentration of NaCl solution.The electrochemical parameters of specimens immersed in 3%NaCl solution suddenly drop at 40 days,earlier than 60 days of the reference.And the charge transfer resistivity of the specimen has decreased by 11 orders of magnitude at 40 days,showing an evident corrosion on steel reinforcement.However,it is interesting to notice that the corrosion is delayed by high external chloride concentration.The specimens immersed in 9%and 15%NaCl solutions remain in a relatively stable state within 120 days with slight pitting.The great corrosion protection of CAC concrete to embedded steel bars enables its wide application in marine.

The Effect of Different Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Mortar Gas Permeability and Pore Structure

Two different freeze-thaw cycles(FTC)are considered in this study to assess the related impact on gas permeability and micro-pore structure of a mortar.These are the water-freezing/water-thawing(WF-WT)and the air-freezing/air-thawing(AF-AT)cycles.The problem is addressed experimentally through an advanced nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)technique able to provide meaningful information on the relationships among gas permeability,pore structure,mechanical properties,and the number of cycles.It is shown that the mortar gas permeability increases with the number of FTCs,the increase factor being 20 and 12.83 after 40 cycles for the WF-WT and AF-AT,respectively.The results also confirm that gas permeability hysteresis phenomena occur during the confining pressure loading and unloading process.

The Research for Surface Properties of Steel Slag Powder and High-Temperature Rheological Properties of Asphalt Mortar

In order to evaluate the feasibility of steel slag powder as filler,the coating properties of steel slag and limestone aggregate were compared by water boiling test,the micro morphology difierences between steel slag powder and mineral powder(limestone powder)were compared by scanning electron microscope(SEM),and the high-temperature rheological properties of asphalt mortar with difierent ratio of filler quality to asphalt quality(F/A)and difierent substitution rates of mineral powder(S/F)were studied by dynamic shear rheological test.The results show that the surface microstructure of steel slag powder is more abundant than that of mineral powder,and the adhesion of steel slag to asphalt is better than that of limestone.At the same temperature,the lower the ratio of S/F is,the greater the rutting factor and complex modulus will be.In addition,the complex modulus and rutting factor of the asphalt mortar increase with the increase of F/A,and the filler type and F/A have a negligible efiect on the phase angle.

Experimental study on the seismic performance of masonry wall reinforced by cement mortar and polypropylene band

Since masonry structures are prone to collapse in earthquakes,a novel joint reinforcement method with a polypropylene band(PP-band)and cement mortar(CM)has been put forward.Compared with the common reinforcement methods,this method not only facilitates construction but also ensures lower reinforcement cost.To systematically explore the influence of joint reinforcement on the seismic performance of masonry walls,quasi-static tests were carried out on six specimens with different reinforcement forms.The test results show that the joint action of PP-band and CM can significantly improve the specimen′s brittle failure characteristics and enhance the integrity of the specimen after cracking.Compared with the specimen without reinforcement,each of the seismic performance indexes of the joint reinforced specimen had obvious improvement.The maximum increased rate about peak load and ductility of the joint reinforced specimen is 100.6%and 233.4%,respectively.

Experimental Evaluation of Compressive Strength and Gas Permeability of Glass- Powder-Containing Mortar

Glass powder of various particle sizes(2,5,10 and 15μm)has been assessed as a possible cement substitute for mortars.Different replacement rates of cement(5%,10%,15%,and 20%)have been considered for all particle sizes.The accessible porosity,compressive strength,gas permeability and microstructure have been investigated accordingly.The results have shown that adding glass powder up to 20%has a significantly negative effect on the porosity and compressive strength of mortar.The compressive strength initially rises with a 5%replacement and then decreases.Similarly,the gas permeability of the mortar displays a non-monotonic behavior;first,it decreases and then it grows with an increase in the glass powder content and particle size.The porosity and gas permeability attain a minimum for a 5%content and 10μm particle size.Application of a Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)technique has revealed that incorporating waste glass powder with a certainfineness can reduce the pore size and the number of pores of the mortar.Compared with the control mortar,the pore volume of the waste glass mortar with 5%and 10μm particle size is significantly reduced.When cement is partially replaced by glass powder with a particle size of 10μm and a 5%percentage,the penetration resistance and compressive strength of the mortar are significantly improved.

On the Combination of Silica Fume and Ceramic Waste for the Sustainable Production of Mortar

The combined use of silica fume(SF)and ceramic waste(CW)for the production of mortar is studied.Sand is replaced by 5%,10%,15%and 20%of CW while a fixed 5%percentage(%wt of cement)of SF is used.The results show that the best results are obtained by using silica fume and ceramic waste sand with 15%weight of sand and 5%wt of cement.With the addition of sand ceramic waste(SCW),the mortar compressive strength and density increase,while the porosity displays an opposite trend.The experimental analysis is complemented with theoretical considerations on the matrix strength and related improvements in mechanical behavior.It is shown that the agreement between the experimental values and the estimated values is good.

Diversity and Importance of Benin’s Forests and Agroforestry Systems Woody Species in Mortars and Pestles Manufacture

The disappearance of resources with high genetic potential and great utility for people and the challenge of the conservation and sustainable management of these resources are two opposing facts of which the world is now concerned. In Benin, forests and agroforestry systems complement each other in wood supply for mortar and pestle manufacture. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the diversity of woody species used for mortar and pestle manufacture and to analyze the preferences of manufacturers through an ethnobotanical approach. Based on the snowball sampling method, and interviews with 112 manufacturers from different ethnic groups, we identified 31 tree species. These species belong to 30 genera and 13 plant families. The Fabaceae are more represented with 14 species (i.e. 45% of the total). Ten are frequently used. But there are four species, such as Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn., Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub., Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth. and Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth.) Meeuwen, which are highly preferred by manufacturers respectively. The calculation of the Indexes of Possession of Global Knowledge (IPSG) revealed that the ethnic group Nagot (0.204) possessed more knowledge and is followed by Mahi (0.201) and Fon (0.18) respectively. Forests and agroforestry systems are both supply sites for manufacturers. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test proved that there are no significant differences between the species’ preference for mortars or pestles manufacture (v = 181, p-value = 0.38). Since the trees cutting in agroforestry systems can be destructive to them, provisions such as the promotion of agroforestry in rural areas and the integration of the used species in the reforestations programs must be taken to curb the pressure and contribute to the conservation of the biodiversity.