Effect of the Retarder on Initial Hydration and Mechanical Properties of the"one-step"Alkaliactivated Composite Cementitious Materials

This paper studied the effects of different retarders on the performance of the"one-step"alkali-activated composite cementitious material(ACCM)which is composed of ground granulated blast slag(GGBS)and fly ash(FA),and analyzed its mechanical properties,hydration mechanism,and retardation mechanism.The effects of retarders on the hydration products,mechanical properties,and hydration kinetics of ACCM were investigated using XRD,SEM,FTIR,EDS,and thermoactive microcalorimetry.The results showed that Na_(2)B_(4)O_(7)·10H_(2)O(B)delayed the exotherm during the alkali activation process and could effectively delay the setting time of ACCM,but the mechanical properties were slightly decreased.The setting time of ACCM increased with the increase in SG content,but the mechanical properties of ACCM decreased with the increase in SG content.C1_(2)H_(22)O_(11)(CHO)could effectively delay the hydration reaction of ACCM and weakly enhanced the compressive strength.H_(3)PO_(4)(HP)at a concentration of 0.05 mol/L had a certain effect on ACCM retardation,but HP at a concentration of 0.07 and 0.09 mol/L had an effect of promoting the setting and hardening time of ACCM.

Mechanisms of isomerization and hydration reactions of typicalβ-diketone at the air-droplet interface

Acetylacetone(AcAc)is a typical class ofβ-diketones with broad industrial applications due to the property of the keto-enol isomers,but its isomerization and chemical reactions at the air-droplet interface are still unclear.Hence,using combined molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry methods,the heterogeneous chemistry of AcAc at the air-droplet interface was investigated,including the attraction of AcAc isomers by the droplets,the distribution of isomers at the air-droplet interface,and the hydration reactions of isomers at the air-droplet interface.The results reveal that the preferential orientation of two AcAc isomers(keto-and enol-AcAc)to accumulate and accommodate at the acidic air-droplet interface.The isomerization of two AcAc isomers at the acidic air-droplet interface is more favorable than that at the neutral air-droplet interface because the“water bridge”structure is destroyed by H_(3)O^(+),especially for the isomerization from keto-Ac Ac to enol-AcAc.At the acidic air-droplet interface,the carbonyl or hydroxyl O-atoms of two AcAc isomers display an energetical preference to hydration.Keto-diol is the dominant products to accumulate at the air-droplet interface,and excessive keto-diol can enter the droplet interior to engage in the oligomerization.The photooxidation reaction of AcAc will increase the acidity of the air-droplet interface,which indirectly facilitate the uptake and formation of more keto-diol.Our results provide an insight into the heterogeneous chemistry ofβ-diketones and their influence on the environment.

Hydration Mechanism of Sulphoaluminate Cement

The feasibility of sulphoaluminate cement （SAC） utilization in support mortar was studied. Setting time and strength of as-received sulphoaluminate cement （SAC） paste were examined, hydration kinetics behavior was determined through Isothermal Calorimeter, and hydration mechanism was investigated by X-Ray diffraction analysis （XRD） and field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis （FSEM）. Results showed that as-received SAC contained 61% of anhydrous calcium sulfate （3CA＇CaSO4） and dicalcium silicate （C2S）. The strength after 1 day or 3 days grew to 68.6% or 85.7% of that after 28 days respectively, while most of hydration heat was released within 1 day. The emergency of three exothermic peaks at acceleration stage was found and hydration kinetics model was established choosing the terminal time of the first exothermic peak at accelerating stage as the beginning of accelerating stage. XRD analysis suggested that large amount of ettringite （AFt） was produced at early age and FSEM observation revealed that ettringite （AFt） formed in sulphoaluminate cement （SAC） paste was characterized of different morphology which was proved to be caused by different ion concentrations.

Effect of Mg/Al Ratios on Hydration Mechanism of Tabular Alumina Carbon Composites Reinforced by Al4C3 in situ Reaction

Hydration mechanism of tabular alumina carbon composites reinforced by Al4C3 in situ reaction with Mg and Al was researched in water steam using super automatic thermostatic water bath from 25 ℃ to 85 ℃. It is shown that hydration mechanism of the composites is chemical reaction control at 44.3 ℃-84 ℃ in H2O（g）. The hydration was controlled by diffusion from 24.7 ℃ to 33 ℃. The ratio of added Mg/Al influences the HMOR of the composites.The mechanism of HMOR of the composites with different ratios of Mg/Al can be discovered by means of SEM analysis. The active Mg/Al powder and flake graphite inside give the composites outstanding hot strength resulting from the interlocking structure of Al4C3 crystals at high temperature. Besides, the matrix changes into the Al4C3 with high refractoriness. The method of preventing the hydration of tabular alumina carbon composites reinforced by Al4C3 in situ reaction was immersed in the wax at suitable temperature or storing them below 33 ℃ in a dry place or storing them with paraffin-coating.

Preparation and hydration of industrial solid waste-cement blends:A review

Industrial solid waste(ISW)-cement blends have the advantages of low carbon,low energy consumption,and low pollution,but their clinker replacement level in low carbon cement is generally low.To address this challenge,this study considers the latest progress and development trends in the ISW-cement blend research,focusing on the activation of ISWs,the formation of ISW-cement blends,and their associated hydration mechanisms.After the mechanical activation of ISWs,the D50(average size)typically drops below 10μm,and the specific surface area increases above 350 m2/kg.Thermal activation can increase the glassy-phase content and reactivity of ISWs,where the coal gangue activation temperature is usually set at 400-1000°C.Furthermore,the roles of ISWs in the hydration of ISW-cement blends are divided into physical and chemical roles.The physical action of ISWs usually acts in the early stage of the hydration of ISW-cement blends.Subsequently,ISWs participate in the hydration reaction of ISW-cement blends to generate products,such as C-(A)-S-H gels.Moreover,alkali activation affects the hydration kinetics of ISW-cement blends and modifies the proportion of gels.Environmental impacts and costs of ISW-cement blends have also been discussed to guide stakeholders in selecting sustainable ISWs.

MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS OF FILLED AND EMPTY CAGE-LIKE WATER CLUSTERS IN LIQUID WATER AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO GAS HYDRATE FORMATION MECHANISMS

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to observe the evolutions of 512 and 51262 cage-like water clusters filled with or without a methane molecule immersed in bulk liquid water at 250 K and 230 K. The lifetimes of these clusters are calculated according to their Lindemann index δ (t) using the criteria of δ≥0.07. For both the filled and empty clusters, we find the dynamics of bulk water determines the lifetimes of cage-like water clusters, and that the lifetime of 512 62 cage-like cluster is the same as that of 512 cage-like cluster. Although the methane molecule indeed makes the filled cage-like cluster more stable than the empty one, the empty cage-like cluster still has chance to be long-lived compared with the filled clusters. These observations support the labile cluster hypothesis on the formation mechanisms of gas hydrates.

Effect of distortion degree on the hydration of red mud base cementitious material

The interaction of Si anions with Al sites during the hydration process was observed by NMR, IR and SEM to understand the reaction mechanism of the hydrates formation mixed with oil shale calcined at different temperatures. As the reaction progressed, the coordination of Al （Ⅳ, Ⅴ, and Ⅵ） changed almost completely to Ⅳ, when mixed with oil shale calcined at 700 ℃. However, when mixed with oil shale calcined at 400 ℃, some 6-coordination of Al still remained in the hydrates. Under the function of alkaline solutions, which were produced with the hydration of clinker, a certain amount of Si and Al atoms dissolved or hydrolyzed from aluminosilicate, formed geomonomers in solutions, and then polycondensed to form networks.

Effect of coral sand on the mechanical properties and hydration mechanism of magnesium potassium phosphate cement mortar

Damaged structures on coral islands have been spalling and cracking due to the dual corrosion of tides and waves.To ensure easy access to aggregate materials,magnesium potassium phosphate cement(MKPC)and coral sand(CS)are mixed to repair damaged structures on coral islands.However,CS is significantly different from land-sourced sand in mineral composition,particle morphology,and strength.This has a substantial impact on the hydration characteristics and macroscopic properties of MKPC mortar.Therefore,in this study we investigated the compressive strength,interfacial mechanical properties,and corrosion resistance of MKPC CS mortar.Changes in the morphology,microstructure,and relative contents of hydration products were revealed by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer(SEM-EDS)and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The results indicated that the compressive strength increased linearly with the interfacial micro-hardness,and then stabilized after long-term immersion in pure water and Na2SO4 solution,showing excellent corrosion resistance.Compared with MKPC river sand(RS)mortar,the hydration products of CS mortar were an intermediate product 6KPO2·8H2O with a relative content of 3.9%at 1 h and 4.1%at 12 h.The hydration product MgKPO_(4)·6H_(2)O increased rapidly after 7-d curing,with an increased growth rate of 1100%.Our results showed that CS promoted the nucleation and formation of hydration products of MKPC,resulting in better crystallinity,tighter overlapping,and a denser interfacial transition zone.The results of this study provide technical support for applying MKPC mortar as a rapid repair material for damaged structures on coral islands.

Enhanced debromination of 4-bromophenol by the UV/sulfite process：Efficiency and mechanism

Halogenated aromatic compounds have attracted increasing concerns due to their toxicity and persistency in the environment, and dehalogenation is one of the promising treatment and detoxification methods. Herein, we systematically studied the debromination efficiency and mechanism of para-bromophenol（4-BP） by a recently developed UV/sulfite process. 4-BP underwent rapid degradation with the kinetics accelerated with the increasing sulfite concentration, pH（6.1–10） and temperature, whereas inhibited by dissolved oxygen and organic solvents. The apparent activation energy was estimated to be 27.8 kJ/mol. The degradation mechanism and pathways of 4-BP were explored by employing N2O and nitrate as the electron scavengers and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify the intermediates. 4-BP degradation proceeded via at least two pathways including direct photolysis and hydrated electron-induced debromination. The contributions of both pathways were distinguished by quantifying the quantum yields of 4-BP via direct photolysis and hydrated electron production in the system. 4-BP could be readily completely debrominated with all the substituted Br released as Br-, and the degradation pathways were also proposed. This study would shed new light on the efficient dehalogenation of brominated aromatics by using the UV/sulfite process.