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Hydration of Cement

Hydration of Cement

Hydration of cement is a chemical reaction between cement particles and water. This process occurs primarily through two mechanisms: through-solution and topochemical. In the through-solution process, anhydrous compounds dissolve into their constituents, hydrates form in the solution, and then precipitate from the supersaturated solution. The topochemical process involves solid-state reactions at the cement particle surface. The through-solution process dominates the topochemical process at the...

Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate attack on concrete is a deterioration process characterized by a whitish discoloration beginning at the edges and corners, accompanied by cracking and spalling. This phenomenon occurs when sulfates react with the components of hardened concrete, forming compounds like calcium sulfate and calcium sulfoaluminate which occupy more space than the substances they replace, causing the concrete to expand and disrupt.
Sulfates from sources like soil, groundwater, or industrial effluents...

Strength and Heat of Hydration

Strength and Heat of Hydration

The hydration of cement is an exothermic reaction in which heat is generated as cement hydrates. This heat of hydration is critical to cement's strength development. The rate at which this heat is generated affects the temperature rise, with a majority of the heat being released early in the hydration process, half within the first three days, and about 75% within the first week.
The heat of hydration for each cement compound is significant; for instance, tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and...

Pozzolans

Pozzolans

Pozzolans are siliceous or aluminous materials blended with Portland cement. They interact with the calcium hydroxide produced during the hydration of Portland cement and contribute to improved strength and durability of concrete. The pozzolanic activity, a measure of a pozzolan's effectiveness, is typically assessed using the strength activity index, as defined in ASTM C 618-93, which calculates the ratio of the compressive strength of cement mixtures with and without pozzolan.
Fly ash is a...

Porosity in Cement Paste

Porosity in Cement Paste

The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...

Soundness of Cement

Soundness of Cement

The soundness of cement refers to the ability of cement paste to retain its volume after setting. Unsound cement can lead to expansion and structural damage due to the presence of free lime, magnesia, and calcium sulfate. Free lime hydrates very slowly, expanding and causing unsoundness, which is difficult to detect because it intercrystallizes with other compounds. Magnesia also reacts with water, forming crystals that can disrupt the cement's structure. Calcium sulfate can create ettringite,...

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Spark Plasma Sintering Apparatus Used for the Formation of Strontium Titanate Bicrystals

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Published on: February 9, 2017

Strontium uptake by cementitious materials.

Erich Wieland¹, Jan Tits, Dominik Kunz

¹Paul Scherrer Institut, Nuclear Energy and Safety Research Department, Laboratory for Waste Management, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. erich.wieland@psi.ch

Environmental Science & Technology

|February 21, 2008

Summary

Strontium (Sr) immobilization in cement is primarily controlled by binding to calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phases, acting as an isotopic exchange process. This finding aids long-term predictions for radioactive waste disposal.

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Area of Science:

Geochemistry
Materials Science
Environmental Science

Background:

Portland cement is a key material for radioactive waste immobilization.
Understanding strontium (Sr) behavior in cement is crucial for repository safety.
Nonradioactive and radioactive Sr isotopes require investigation for accurate modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the immobilization mechanisms of nonradioactive and radioactive Sr in Portland cement.
To determine the partitioning and uptake of Sr in cementitious materials.
To elucidate the local coordination environment of Sr within the cement matrix.

Main Methods:

Wet chemistry experiments (batch sorption/desorption).
X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, specifically Sr K-edge EXAFS.
Analysis of Sr partitioning between hardened cement paste (HCP) and pore solution.

Main Results:

Sr uptake by HCP is rapid and linear, irrespective of cement composition.
Sr partitioning can be modeled as a reversible sorption process with similar distribution coefficients (Kd).
EXAFS reveals Sr binds to C-S-H phases via bridging oxygen atoms, indicating uptake as a partially hydrated species.

Conclusions:

Sr immobilization in cement is controlled by binding to calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phases.
The process is analogous to an isotopic exchange with pristine Sr.
Simplified sorption models based on C-S-H binding can predict long-term Sr immobilization in radioactive waste repositories.