• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.305-317
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• 2016

Porous materials such as concrete could be subjected to aggressive ions transport. Durability of cement paste is extremely depended on water and ions penetration into its interior sections. These ions transport could lead different damages depending on reactivity of ions, their concentrations and diffusion coefficients. In this paper, chloride diffusion process in cement hydrates is simulated at atomistic scale using molecular dynamics. Most important phase of cement hydrates is calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Tobermorite, one of the most famous crystal analogues of C-S-H, is used as substrate in the simulation model. To conduct simulation, a nanopore is considered in the middle of simulation cell to place water molecules and aggressive ions. Different chloride salts are considered in models to find out which one is better for calculation of the transport properties. Diffusion coefficients of water molecules and chloride ions are calculated and validated with existing analytical and experimental works. There are relatively good agreements among simulation outputs and experimental results.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2006

An electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) investigation can provide quantitative and qualitative insight into the nature of the surface and bulk chemistry on solidified waste forms(SWF). The proportion of Pb in grain areas is below 0.3 wt. %, and the proportion near the border of the grain slightly increases to 0.98 wt. % but in the inter-particle areas farther from the grain, the concentration of Pb markedly increases. It is apparent that very little Pb diffuses into the tricalcium silicate($C_3S$) particles and most of the Pb exists as precipitates of sulfate, hydroxide, and carbonate in the cavity areas between $C_3S$ grains. Calcite additions on Pb-doped SWF are also observed to induce deeper incorporation of lead into the cement grains with EPMA line-analysis of cross-sections of cement grains. The line-analysis reveals the presence of $0.2{\sim}5$ weight % Pb over $5\;{\mu}m$ from cement grain boundaries. In the inter-particle areas, the ratio of Ca, Si, Al and S to Pb is relatively similar even at some distance from the grain border and the Pb (wt. %) ratio is reasonably constant throughout the whole inter-particles area. It is apparent that the enhanced development of C-S-H on addition of calcite can increasingly absorbs lead species within the silica matrix.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.810-819
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• 2007

Investigation of alkali activation of fly ash and blast furnace slag was carried out using waterglass and sodium hydroxide. XRD, FTIR, $^{29}Si$ and $^{27}Al$ NMR, TGA and SEM were used to observed the reaction products and microstructure of the fly ash/slag cement (FSC) pastes. The reaction products were amorphous or low-ordered calcium silicate hydrate and aluminosilicate gel produced from alkali activation of blast furnace slag and fly ash, respectively. On the basis of this investigation, waterglass solution with a modulus(Ms) of 1.0 and 1.2 is recommended for alkali activation of fly ash and blast furnace slag. Morphology of FSC pastes alkali-activated with Ms of 1.0 and 1.2 shows a more solid and continuous matrix due to restructuring of gel-like reaction products from alkali-activated fly ash and blast furnace slag together with another hydrolysis product(i.e., silica gel) from water glass.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.639-646
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• 2007

This study performed several tests for the durability of the concrete coated with nano synthesis ceramics which do not contain volatile organic compounds harmful to environment. The tests were adhesion test on dry and humid concrete, SEM test, MIP analysis, carbonation, chloride diffusion by electronic facilitation, freezing-thawing resistance, alkaline resistance, and brine resistance test. In the adhesion test on dry and humid concrete, nano synthesis ceramics coating produced the highest results among all the coatings tested. Nano synthesis ceramics adhered solidly on the concrete surface. The adhesive strength seemed to result from the hydrogen bond between nano synthesis ceramics which are inorganic and generated by hydrolysis and re-condensation reaction and the concrete's hydrates such as calcium silicate aluminate or calcium silicate hydrate. SEM test and MIP analysis results show surface structure with finest crevices pore in the nano synthesis ceramics coating applied concretes. In the carbonation, chloride diffusion, and freezing-thawing resistance tests, the concretes with nano synthesis ceramics coating indicated the best results. Based on these test results, further progress in application of nano synthesis ceramics coatings to various concrete structures including costal structures and sewerage arrangements can be expected.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2012

This paper studies the effect of the compressive strength for combined alkali-activated slag mortars. The effect of activators such as alkali type and dosage factor on the strength was investigated. The alkalis combinations made using five caustic alkalis (sodium hydroxide (NaOH, A series), calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$, B series), magnesium hydroxide ($Mg(OH)_2$, C series), aluminum hydroxide ($Al(OH)_3$, D series), and potassium hydroxide (KOH, E series)) with sodium carbonate ($Na_2CO_3$) were evaluated. The mixtures were combined in different dosage at 1M, 2M, and 3M. The study results showed that the compressive strength of combined alkali-activated slag mortars tended to increase with increasing sodium carbonate. The strength of combined alkali-activated slag mortars was better than that of control cases (without sodium carbonate). The result from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed that there were reaction products of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and alumina-silicate gels from combined alkali-activated slag specimens.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.85-89
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• 2014

The use of pozzolanic materials in concrete mixtures can enhance the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. By reactions with pozzolanic materials and calcium hydroxide in cement matrix, calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) increases and calcium hydroxide decreases in cement matrix of concrete. Consequently, the volume of solid materials increases. The pozzolanic particles also fill spaces between clinker grains, thereby resulting in a denser cement matrix and interfacial transition zone between cement matrix and aggregates; this lowers the permeability and increases the compressive strength of concrete. Moreover, the total contents of alkali in concrete are reduced by replacing cements with pozzolanic materials; this prevents cracks due to alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR). In this study, nanosilica is incorporated in cement pastes. The differences of microstructural compositions between the hydrated cements with and without nanosilica are examined using nanoindentation, XRDA and $^{29}Si$ MAS NMR. The results can be used for a basic research to enhance durability of concrete slab tracks and concrete railway sleepers.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1630-1636
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• 2009

Nine alkali-activated (AA) mortars were mixed and cured at water or air-dried conditions to explore the significance and limitation for the application of the combination of Ba and Ca ions as an alkali-activator. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) was used for source materials, and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)₂) were employed as alkali activators. Test results clearly showed that the water curing condition was more effective than the air-dried curing condition for the formation of the denser calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels that had a higher molar Si/Ca ratio, resulting in a higher strength development. At the same time, the introduction of Ba(OH)₂ led to the formation of 2CaO·Al₂O₃·SiO₂·8H₂O (C₂ASH₈) hydrates with higher molar Si/Al and Ca/Al ratios. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that the developed cementless mortars have highly effective performance and high potential as an eco-friendly sustainable building material.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2011

Theoretical models for prediction of the mechanical properties of cement mortar are developed based on the morphology and interactions of cement hydration products, capillary pores and microcracks. The models account for intermolecular interactions involving the nano-scale calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) constituents of hydration products, and consider the effects of capillary pores as well as the microcracks within the hydrated cement paste and at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Cement mortar was modeled as a three-phase material composed of hydrated cement paste, fine aggregates and ITZ. The Hashin's bound model was used to predict the elastic modulus of mortar as a three-phase composite. Theoretical evaluation of fracture toughness indicated that the frictional pullout of fine aggregates makes major contribution to the fracture energy of cement mortar. Linear fracture mechanics principles were used to model the tensile strength of mortar. The predictions of theoretical models compared reasonably with empirical values.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2024

In this study, DEIPA was used for enhancing cementitious performance of bottom ash replaced cement. By applying the partial or no-known crystal structure method to X-ray diffraction data, the amounts of amorphous bottom ash and calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H) could be separated and quantified. In the sample without DEIPA, the bottom ash hardly reacted, resulting in low compressive strength. However, the addition of DEIPA not only altered the hydration behavior of the cement but also enhanced the pozzolanic reaction between bottom ash and calcium hydroxide, leading to the generation of additional C-S-H. This resulted in high compressive strength not only in the early stages but also in the later stages. Therefore, with the addition of DEIPA during the pulverization of the bottom ash, the reactivity of the bottom ash was significantly improved. Hence, there is potential in the development of bottom ash replacement cement.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2015

In this research, isothermal conduction calorimetry analysis has been conducted to investigate the reactivity of alkali activated slag binders. In order to secure the reactivity and workability of alkali activated slag binders, experiences with various types and concentrations of alkali activators were performed. Isothermal conduction calorimetry were measured with different alkali activators and mass ratio of $SO_3$ to binders as variables, and sodium tripolyphosphate ($Na_2P_3O_{10}$) and hydrated sodium borate ($Na_2B_4O_710H_2O$) were used to control setting time. As a results, alkali activated slag binders required alkali activators with 4 to 5 percent of concentration to accelerate the formation of calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H) by alkali-activation, and overall heat generation rate delayed as accumulated heat decreased due to the high $SO_3$ contents. Moreover, the use of hydrated sodium borate as setting retarder causes elongated setting time due to delaying heat generation, so it can be considered that setting retarder played an important role in delaying total heat generation rate.