• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2020

Raw perlite is a volcanic alumino-silicate and is used as aggregate in the construction industry. The high silica and alumina contained in the raw perlite allows the production of geopolymer mortar with the help of alkaline solutions. In this study, different geopolymer mortars are obtained by mixing ground perlite (GP), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), water and CEN standard sand and the strength and microstructure of these mortars are investigated. Mortar specimens are placed in the oven 24 hours after casting and kept at different temperatures and times, then the specimens are cured under laboratory conditions until the day of strength tests. After curing, unit weight, ultrasound pulse velocity, flexural and compressive strengths are determined. Experimental results indicate that the mechanical properties of the mortars enhance with increasing oven-curing period and temperatures as well as increasing NaOH molarity. In addition, SEM/EDS and XRD analyses are performed on the mortar specimens and the results are interpreted.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.917-925
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• 1991

For the present experiment five Portland cement mortars are in order: mortars with two different water/ cement ratios (W/C=0.45 and 0.50, each having no chemical additive), and those with an additive such as superplasticizer, air-entraining agent or water-repelling agent. We fix the W/C ratio of mortars having additive so that their pastes can yield the same workability as that of the cement mortar of W/C=0.50 with no additive. It is shown that the freeze-thaw resistivity depends heavily on the characteristic of wide pores. Despite a good deal of wide pores, the air-entrained specimen shows a good freeze-thaw resistivity due to appropriate air-pores. And also the specimen with water-repelling agent, which proves to cause the microstructure to become hydrophobic, make good resistance to freeze-thaw cycles in spite of its high wide-porosity. Our suggestion is that the freeze-thaw durability of Portland cement mortar/concrete can be more effectively enhanced by using air-entraining agent or water-repelling agent, and simutaneously by taking proper measures against foaming and/or the increased tendency of wide-pore building due to additive.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.55-59
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• 2009

The epoxy resin without hardener can harden by a ring-opening reaction in the presence of the alkalies produced by the hydration of cement in epoxy-modified mortars and concretes. This paper investigates the effect of curing conditions on the strength improvement of polymer-modified mortars using bisphenol A-type epoxy resin without hardener. The polymer-modified mortars using epoxy resin are prepared with various polymer-cement ratios, and subjected to ideal, water, dry and heat cures. In the heat cure, the epoxy-modified mortars are sealed or unsealed with a PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) film. The epoxy-modified mortars are tested for flexural and compressive strengths at desired curing methods. The microstructures of the epoxy-modified mortars are also observed by scanning electron microscope. The effects of curing conditions on the strength development of the epoxy-modified mortars are examined. From the test results, the marked effectiveness of the heat cure under the PVDC film sealing against the development of the strength of the epoxy-modified mortar without the hardener is recognized. The flexural and compressive strengths of 7-day-90℃ heat-cured, PVDC film-sealed epoxy-modified mortars without hardener reach 7 to 17MPa and 24 to 44MPa respectively, and are two to three times of Unmodified mortar. Such high strength development of the epoxy-modified mortars may be achieved by the dense microstructure formation by cement hydrates and the hardening of the epoxy resin in the mortars.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.949-956
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• 1994

In order to investigate the relationship between pore size distribution and freezing-thawing resistance of mortars, polymer-cement mortars were prepared by using styrene-butadiene rubber latex, ethylene-vinyl acetate emulsion and polyacrylic ester emulsion with various polymer-cement ratios at constant flow. From the results of the test, polymer-cement mortars had a good pore size distribution for freezing-thawing resistance compared with unmodified mortars because of having a small pore volume in the pore radius range of 103~104 $\AA$ affecting on the frost damage. And the freezing-thawing resistance of polymer-cement mortars was improved with increasing polymer-cement ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.107-108
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• 2011

The purpose of present study is to examine the application of effective curing to hardener-free epoxy-modified mortars. The epoxy-modified mortars are prepared with polymer-cement ratios, subjected to two types of curing conditions, and tested for compressive, flexural and tensile strengths. As a result, hardener-free epoxy-modified mortars with steam curing is markedly improved with increasing air-dry curing period. High strength development of the epoxy-modified mortars may be achieved by the dense microstructure by cement and the hardener of the epoxy resin in the mortars.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of mortars with and without Metakaolin (MK) exposed to elevated temperatures $200^{\circ}C$, $400^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ for two hours. The binder to sand ratio was kept constant (1:5.23). The ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was replaced with MK at 0%, 5%, 10% 20% and 30%. All mixtures were designed to have a flow of $94{\pm}5%$. The compressive strength of mortars before and after exposure to elevated temperature was determined. The formation of various decomposition phases were identified using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The microstructure of the mortars was examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Test results indicated that MK improves the compressive strength before and after exposure to elevated temperature and that the 20% cement replacement of MK is the optimum percentage.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2016

Fusion and characterization of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether based thermosetting polymer mortars containing an epoxy resin, Fly ash and Rock sand are presented here for the Experimental study. The specimens have been prepared by means of an innovative process, in mild conditions, of commercial epoxy resin, Fly ash and Rock sand based paste. In this way, thermosetting based hybrid mortars characterized by a different content of normalized Fly ash and Rock sand by a homogeneous dispersion of the resin have been obtained. Once hardened, these new composite materials show improved compressive strength and toughness in respect to both the Fly ash and the Rock sand pastes since the Resin provides a more cohesive microstructure, with a reduced amount of micro cracks. The micro structural characterization allows pointing out the presence of an Interfacial Transition Zone similar to that observed in cement based mortars. A correlation between micro-structural features and mechanical properties of the mortar has also been studied.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2021

The incorporation of pozzolans to Portland cement pastes adds value in the development of new materials for the construction industry. This study presents a new computational method, complementary to the pozzolanic identification by compressive strength at 28 days method, for supporting the validation of pozzolanic mortars for non-structural purposes. An algorithm capable of classifying the pixels of micrographs of specimens fragments was developed. Therefore, comparative analyses were generated from fractional Gaussian representations in four intervals of the same amplitude that indicated the predispositions to form larger void indices (intervals 1 and 2). The results showed that the computational method indicators are in accordance with the physical and chemical indicators.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2023

In this study, microstructures and mechanical properties of repair materials using calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) and/or amorphous calcium aluminate (ACA) cements were experimentally investigated. By XRD ansysis, the hydrates formed in repair materials were identified. In addition, the microstructures of repair materials were visually examined through SEM observation. Setting time of mortars made with repair materials were measured. The strength development and ultrasonic velocity of the mortars were also evaluated at the predetermined ages. As a result, it seems that ACA showed a benefit effect with respect to mechanical properties of mortars.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.335-346
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• 2022

Geopolymers are an important alternative material supporting recycling, sustainability, and waste management. Durability properties are among the most critical parameters to be investigated; in this study, the durability of manufactured geopolymer samples under the attack of 10% magnesium sulfate and 10% sodium sulfate solution was investigated. 180 cycles of freezing and thawing were also tested. The experimentally obtained results investigate the durability of geopolymer mortar prepared with fly ash (class F) and alkali activator. Three different quarry dust wastes replaced the river sand aggregate: limestone, marble, and basalt powder as fine filler aggregate in three different replacement ratios of 25%, 50%, and 75% to produce ten series of geopolymer composites. The geopolymer samples' visual appearance, weight changes, UPV, and strength properties were studied for up to 12 months at different time intervals of exposure to sulfate solutions to investigate sulfate resistance. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), EDS, and XRD were used to study the microstructure of the samples. It was beneficial to include quarry waste as a filler aggregate in durability and mechanical properties. The compact matrix was demonstrated by microstructural analysis of the manufactured specimens. The geopolymer mortars immersed in sodium sulfate showed less strength reduction and deterioration than magnesium sulfate, indicating that magnesium sulfate is more aggressive than sodium sulfate. Therefore, it is concluded that using waste dust interrogation with partial replacement of river sand with fly ash-based geopolymers has satisfactory results in terms of durability properties of freeze-thaw and sulfate resistance.