• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2009

Much attention has been paid to the processing of inorganic whisker, especially calcium carbonate whisker, which can be used as reinforcement materials of polymer composite due to its low price. Unfortunately, the present synthesis technique of calcium carbonate whisker starts from calcinations of limestone, which involves high energy consumption and furthermore is a highly environment polluting reaction. In this report, needle-like aragonite was synthesized with a reversible solution reaction from limestone without calcination. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the morphology and crystal structure of intermediates as well as that of the product, aragonite. GCC (grinding calcium carbonate) powder was dissolved in an aqueous solution of magnesium sulfate with reflux and air flush. EDTA titration was used to evaluate reaction rate of the dissolution. A kinetics equation of the dissolution reaction was constructed, which displayed second-order kinetics with respect to the concentration of magnesium sulfate. A rate constant of $0.0015\;l^{-3}{\cdot}mol^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ was obtained. The dissolution reaction gave fiber-like magnesium hydroxide sulfate and gypsum crystal. Then needle-like aragonite with a length of $9.13\;{\pm}\;1.02\;{\mu}m$ and an aspect ratio of $5.64\;{\pm}\;1.37$ was synthesized from the dissolution product with $CO_2$ bubbling at $70^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 2016

The synthesis of pure calcium carbonate nanocrystals was achieved using a simultaneous injection method to produce nano particles of uniform size. These were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The nano particles were needle-shaped aragonite polymorphs, approximately 100-200 nm in length. The aragonite polymorph of calcium carbonate was prepared using aqueous solutions of $CaCl_2$ and $Na_2CO_3$, which were injected simultaneously into double distilled water at $50^{\circ}C$ and then allowed to react for 1.5 h. The resulting whisker-type nano aragonite with high aspect ratio (30) is biocompatible and potentially suitable for applications in light weight plastics, as well as in the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint industries.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2009

PCC (precipitated calcium carbonate) and ground calcium carbonate have been widely used in alkaline papermaking. Unfortunately, although increasing filler level in papers can improve the paper properties such as brightness, opacity, stiffness gloss, smoothness, porosity, and printability, as well as decrease cost, some strength of the paper is negatively affected. In this research, needle-like aragonite was synthesized using $Ca(OH)_2$ and $CO_2$ as reactants in the presence of $MgCl_2$ and characterized with scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The physical and optical properties of the paper handsheets containing these needle-like aragonite fillers were evaluated. Results indicated that tensile strength, Z-direction tensile strength and folding endurance of the paper were improved by the needle-like aragonite crystals compared to the paper using commercial PCC (precipitated calcium carbonate) as filler. The stiffness of the paper handsheet on the machine direction was increased, but no evident difference in the cross direction was found. The improvement of paper strength mainly resulted from the twining effect between the aragonite whiskers and paper fibers. The optical properties of the paper were slightly decreased with the use of the needle-like aragonites compared to commercial PCC. These results suggest that paper cost can be decreased by increasing the content of needle-like aragonite filler while paper strength will not be decreased compared to PCC filler.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.481-492
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• 2018

In this paper, a new hybrid fiber system (NHFS) is investigated for the application of slab. The steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber and calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) whisker is added to form NHFS. The four-point bending test is carried out on the flexural properties of slab with plain, steel fiber, traditional hybrid fiber system (THFS) and NHFS reinforced cementitious composites. The flexural behavior is evaluated by ASTM C1018-97, JCI-SF4 and post-crack strength (PCS) technique. The evaluation parameters of flexural toughness such as toughness index (TI), equivalent flexural strength (EFS) and PCS are determined. The size of slab specimens is $15mm(thickness){\times}50mm(width){\times}200mm(length)$. The results show that adding $CaCO_3$ whisker to THFS can significantly improve the flexural strength, TI, EFS, PCS of the slab. The empirical relation between reinforcing index ($RI_v$) and flexural parameters show that flexural parameters of slabs increase first and then decrease; which indicates that optimum $RI_v$ values can be helpful in the considering the mix design of steel-PVA fibers-$CaCO_3$ whisker composites for achieving the desired flexural-related properties. The scanning electron microscopy is performed to observe the micro-morphological characteristics of the fracture surface, which proved the positive hybrid effect among the different fibers in cementitious composites. The NHFS can arrest the generation and propagation of the crack from micro to macro level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.449-459
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• 2017

Fresh and hardened behaviors of a new hybrid fiber (steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol fiber and calcium carbonate whisker) reinforced cementitious composites (HyFRCC) with admixtures (fly ash, silica fume and water reducer) have been studied. Within the limitations of the equipment and testing program, it is illustrated that the rheological properties of the new HyFRCC conform to the modified Bingham model. The relations between flow spread and yield stress as well as flow rate and plastic viscosity both conform well with negative exponent correlation, justifying that slump flow and flow rate test can be applied to replace the other two as simple rheology measurement and control method in jobsite. In addition, for the new HyFRCC with fly ash and water reducer, the mathematical model between the rheological and mechanical properties conform well with the quadratic function, and these quadratic function curves are always concave upward. Based on mathematical analysis, an optimal range of rheology/ flowability can be identified to achieve ideal mechanical properties. In addition, this optimization method can be extended to PVA fiber reinforced cement-based composites.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2023

In this paper, the bending performance of a MSFRHPC (containing steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, and CW)-reinforced beam was studied for the first time. Introducing a multiscale fiber system increased the first crack load (up to 150%), yield load (up to 50%), and peak load (up to 15%) of reinforced beams. The multiscale fiber system delays cracking of the reinforced beam, reduces crack width of the reinforced beam in normal use, and improves the durability of the beam. Considering yield load and peak load, the reinforcing effect of multiscale fiber on the high-reinforcement ratio beam (1.00%) is better than that on the low-reinforcement ratio beam (0.57%). Introducing fibers slowed the development of cracks in the reinforced beam under bending. With the added hybrid fiber, the deformation concentration of reinforced beams after yield was more significant with concentration in 1 or 2 cracks. A model for predicting the flexural capacity of MSFRHPC-reinforced beams was proposed, considering the action of multiscale hybrid fibers. This research is helpful for structure application of MSFRHPC-containing CW.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2009

Different types magnesium hydroxide groups have been obtained using the hydrothermal precipitation technique from magnesium sulfate and calcium carbonate solution. The Mg atom coordinated around O atom of ${SO_4}^{2-}$ in another layer to form a multi-layer structure crystal. The influence of synthesis parameters on the morphological characteristics and size of magnesium hydroxide groups precipitated in aqueous were investigated such as different of additive and pH. Magnesium hydroxide groups were decomposed gradually and converted finally to MgO particles after heated in air temperature up to $1050^{\circ}C$. The particle size and it's distribution morphology, crystal phase and thermal behavior of the samples were characterized through XRD, SEM, EDS, and TG/DTA.