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Alkali Aggregate Reaction in Concrete01:26

Alkali Aggregate Reaction in Concrete

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The alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete involves natural siliceous minerals in aggregates reacting with alkaline hydroxides derived from cement alkalis. This reaction forms an alkali-silica gel that absorbs water, swells, and increases in volume, which is confined by the surrounding cement paste, creating internal pressures that crack and disrupt the concrete. The extent of expansion and damage can be partly attributed to the alkali-silica reaction's osmotic hydraulic pressure and the...
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Accelerators in concrete serve as admixtures to speed up the hardening process, enabling the concrete to achieve early strength faster. Although accelerators do not necessarily impact the time it takes concrete to set, they reduce this time in practice. A common accelerator is calcium chloride, which is particularly useful for hastening early strength development in cold weather or for rapid repair jobs that require quick heat generation after mixing.
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Accurate analysis of complex samples often requires advanced preparation techniques to achieve reliable and reproducible results. Samples containing inorganic or organic materials can be challenging to dissolve or decompose effectively. Standard sample preparation methods include acid digestion, fusion, dry ashing, and wet digestion.
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Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the alkali metals are unusually low for metals and decrease going down the group, while the density increases going down the group with the exception of potassium (Table 1).
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For solutions containing mixtures of different cations, the identity of each cation can be determined by qualitative analysis. This technique involves a series of selective precipitations with different chemical reagents, each reaction producing a characteristic precipitate for a specific group of cations. Metal ions within a group are further separated by varying the pH, heating the mixture to redissolve a precipitate, or adding other reagents to form complex ions.
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Alkali-Activated Materials from Diverse Solid Precursors: Structural, Mechanical and Radiological Properties.

Nataša Mladenović Nikolić1, Marija Ivanović1, Snežana Nenadović1

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Alkali-activated materials using wood ash and metakaolin show promising results. These materials effectively immobilize radionuclides, making them safe for construction applications.

Keywords:
alkali-activated materialsmetakaolinradionuclideswood ash

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) offer sustainable alternatives to traditional cement.
  • Wood ash (WA) and metakaolin (MK) are potential precursors for AAMs.
  • Understanding the influence of alkali activators on AAM properties is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the gel characteristics of AAMs synthesized from WA and MK.
  • To explore the impact of precursor type and NaOH concentration on AAM properties.
  • To assess the radiological safety of these AAMs for construction.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of AAMs using WA and MK with varying NaOH concentrations (6 M, 12 M).
  • Characterization using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), DRIFT, XRD, and SEM-EDS.
  • Evaluation of mechanical properties (compressive strength).
  • Quantification of radionuclides via gamma-spectrometry.

Main Results:

  • FTIR confirmed geopolymer network formation; XRD showed crystalline phases in an amorphous matrix.
  • Metakaolin-based AAMs (12 M) achieved ~14 MPa compressive strength.
  • Wood ash-based AAMs exhibited lower strength (~4 MPa at 6 M, ~0.5 MPa at 12 M) due to precursor composition.
  • Alkali activation significantly reduced radiological hazard parameters (Raeq, Hex, Iγ), with values below safety limits.

Conclusions:

  • AAMs synthesized from WA and MK demonstrate tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties.
  • Increasing NaOH concentration enhances radionuclide immobilization within the geopolymer matrix.
  • These AAMs are suitable for safe construction applications from a radiation protection standpoint.