• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.459-468
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• 2011

The current solution to the problem of using cementitious material for sealing purposes in a final radioactive waste repository is to develop a low-pH cement grout. In this study, the material properties of a low-pH cement grout based on a recipe used at ONKALO are investigated by considering such factors as pH variation, compressive strength, dynamic modulus, and hydraulic conductivity by using silica fume and micro-cement. From the pH measurements of the hardened cement grout, the required pH (< pH 11) is obtained after 130 days of curing. Although the engineering properties of the low-pH cement grout used in this study are inferior to those of conventional high-pH cement grout, the utilization of silica fume and micro-cement effectively meets the long-term environmental and durability requirements for cement grout in a radioactive waste repository.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 2021

The pH of cement-based materials (CBMs) is an important factor for their durability, sustainability, and long service life. Currently, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is becoming mandatory due to economic, environmental, and sustainable issues. There is a decreasing trend in pH of CBMs due to incorporation of SCMs. The determination of numerical values of pH is very important for various low and high volume SCMs blended cement mortars for the better understanding of different defects and durability issues during their service life. In addition, the effect of cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction of SCMs on the pH should be determined at initial and later ages. In this study, the effect of low and high-volume fly ash (FA) and ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) cement mortars in different curing conditions on their pH values has been determined. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to support the findings from pH measurements. In addition, thermal conductivity (k-value) and strength activity indices of these cement mortars were discussed. The results showed that pH values of all blended cement mortars were less than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar in all curing conditions used. There was a decreasing tendency in pH of all mortars with passage of time. In addition, the pH of cement mortars was not only dependent on the quantity of Ca(OH)₂. The effect of adding SCMs on the pH value of cement mortar should be monitored and measured for both short and long terms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.115-116
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate and improve the carbon dioxide sequestration capability and the mechanical properties of non-hydraulic low calcium silicate cement especially designed for CO₂ reaction and ordinary Portland cement subjected to the carbonation curing facilitating pH swing method. Nitric acid (HNO₃) was utilized as an liquid for the mixing of cement paste to enhance the initial dissolution of Ca ions from the cements by promoting low pH environment and prevent the direct precipitation of Ca with the anion, owing to the high solubility of Ca(NO₃)₂ in water. The results presented that the higher the concentration of HNO₃, the higher the compressive strength and CO₂ sequestration (until 0.1 M). Ca dissolution caused by the harsh acid attack onto the anhydrous cement particle lead to the higher carbonation reaction degree, forming abundant CaCO₃ crystals after the reaction. However, cement paste mixed with excessively high concentration of HNO₃ presented deterioration due to the too harsh pH environment and abundant NO₃- ions which are known to retard the reaction of cement.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.373-387
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• 2009

Considering the current construction technology and research status of deep repository tunnels for radioactive waste disposal, it is inevitable to use cementitious materials in spite of serious concern about their long-term environmental stability. Thus, it is an emerging task to develop low pH cementitious materials. This study reviews the state of the technology on low pH cements developed in Sweden, Switzerland, France, and Japan as well as in Finland which is constructing a real deep repository site for high-level radioactive waste disposal. Considering the physical and chemical stability of bentonite which acts as a buffer material, a low pH cement limits to $pH{\leq}11$ and pozzolan-type admixtures are used to lower the pH of cement. To attain this pH requirement, silica fume, which is one of the most promising admixtures, should occupy at least 40 wt% of total dry materials in cement and the Ca/Si ratio should be maintained below 0.8 in cement. Additionally, selective super-plasticizer needs to be used because a high amount of water is demanded from the use of a large amount of silica fume.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2022

Peat soil has the characteristics of high moisture content, large void ratio and low shear strength. In this study, unconfined compressive strength and SEM tests are conducted to investigate the effects of ultrahigh moisture content, cement content, organic content and pH value on the strength of solidified peat. As an increase in the cement content and curing period, the failure mode of solidified peat soil changes from ductile failure to brittle failure. The influence of moisture content on the strength of solidified peat is greater than the cement content. As cement content increases from 10% to 30%, strength of solidified peat at a curing age of 28 days increases by 161%~485%. By increasing water content by 100%, decreases of solidified peat at a curing age of 28 days is 42%~79%. Compared with the strength of solidified peat with a pH value of 5.5, the strength of peat with a pH value of 3.5 reduces by 10% ~ 46%, while the strength of peat with a pH value of 7.0 increases by 8% ~ 38%. It is recommended to use filler materials for stabilizing peat soil with moisture content greater than 200%. Because of small size of clay particles, clay added in the cement solidified peat can improve much higher strength that that of sand.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 2023

Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) is a newly emerging pozzolanic material having high amount of silica content. Various forms of POFA were used in cement-based materials (CBMs) in replacement of cement in different dosages of low and high volume. Although, there are many researches on POFA to be used in concrete and mortar, however, this material was not practically used in the construction industry. Engineers and designers need to be confident to use any new developed materials by knowing all engineering properties at short and long terms. As durability concern, concrete pH value is one of the most important properties. Portland cement produces are alkaline initially, however, it may be reduced due to aging and its components. It is believed that by incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials in CBMs the pH value reduces due to utilization of Ca(OH)₂ in pozzolanic reaction. This study is the first attempts to understand the pH value of mortars containing up to 30% POFA under different curing conditions and its changes with time. The results were also compared with the pH of ground granulated ballast furnace slag (GGBFS) and fly ash (FA) content mortars. In addition, the compressive strength of different mortars under different curing conditions were also studied. The results showed that the pH value of control mix (without cementitious materials) was more than all the blended cement mortars indifferent curing conditions at the same ages. However, there was a reducing trend in the pH value of all mortar mixes containing POFA.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.88-94
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• 2013

The hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is well known as a hazardous ion, presumably inducing dermatic diseases and if serious cancer. The present study concerns the binding capacity of Cr(VI) ions in the cement powder and matrix for a quantitative technique of Cr(VI) ions in cement to influence human health. Both the water-soluble and acid-soluble Cr(VI) ions present in 3 types of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), pulverised fuel ash (PFA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and silica fume (SF) were measured using the spectrophotometer. As a result, it was found that the concentration of water-soluble Cr(VI) ion in cement ranged from 10.5 to 18.9mg/kg-cement, and in the additional materials a very low value of Cr(VI) ion was measured. Acid-soluble Cr(VI) ion was even higher than water-soluble Cr(VI) ion, ranging from 172.4 to 318.2mg/kg-cement. Nevertheless, the concentration of acid-soluble Cr(VI) ion is not proportional to addition of acid. It depends rather the variable pH of solvent involving cement paste. As enough cement hydration occurs, the binding capacity of Cr(VI) ion increases, inhibiting this ions from leaching out in the presence of hydration products such as ettringite or tri-calcium aluminate which bind Cr(VI) ion by ion-exchange.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.235-238
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• 1997

Basic properties of new cement pastes based on the system $CaO-Al_2O_3-P_O_5-H_2O$were studied Phosphoric acid solutions and calcium dialuminate clinkers synthesized by the hydration-burning method were used for liquid and powder components of the paste, respectively Variation in the compositions of the paste was achieved by changing the liquid/powder ratio and the concentration of phosphoric acid solution. The hardening rate of the paste was so largely affected by the amount of phosphoric acid that hardening was inhibited with the low-concentrated solution but was explosively accelerated with the high-concentrated solution. The phosphoric acid solutions of concentration of 45~50% and the liquid/powder ratio of 0.5~1.5 were favoured for the high early-strength cement paste with the reasonable hardening rate and high strength. The binding phase of hardened paste was the dense amorphous gel of the system $CaO-Al_2O_3-P_O_5-H_2O$. in which the unreacted calcium dialuminate grains were embeded.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1998

Effects of pH, bentonite and Portland cement on the leaching of the simulated waste glass were investigated. The simulated waste glass showed the low leach rate in the neutral pH region, while the leach rate in both acidic and alkaline regions increased. Addition of bentonite to the leachant enhanced the leaching of the waste glass. When the waste glass was leached at 72$^{\circ}C$ for 36 days in the ground water with gel state Na-bentonite, approximately 2.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of the surface was corroded out and the large amount of Ti, Nd, and Zr was observed on the surface. The amount of B leached from the simulated waste glass in the presence of domestic bentonite was about three times higher than that in the presence of Aldrich bentonite as well as Portland cement.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2003

The interface between low carbon steel and blended cement pastes containing slag was investigated using impedance spectroscopy. In addition, the pastes were characterized by several analytical methods (XRD, EDX, electrode potential, pH and ICP). The electrical behavior of the interface in the blended slag systems is correlated to its corresponding pore solution chemistry and the products present in the interface. Passivation occurred at the paste/steel interfaces, in cement pastes up to containing from 0 to 75% slag content. 100% slag paste induced corrosion of the low carbon steel, which could be explained by the influence of sulfur on the system.