Location

University of Leeds

Keywords

calcium aluminate cement; phase conversion; calcium nitrate; Compressive strength

Abstract

Phase conversion in calcium aluminate cements (CAC) induces significant volumetric instability; it would result in an increase in porosity and decrease in strength in CAC. In this study, calcium nitrate (CN) as a phase conversion inhibitor, the effect of CN on the hydration of CAC at different curing temperatures was studied. Xray diffraction, thermal analysis, SEM, isothermal calorimetry and the compressive strength were conducted on the CAC dosages of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%CN cured at 20�, 30�, 40� and 50�. The results show CN can retard CAC hydration, alter the characters of the hydrates of CAC systems and avoid the conversion process. With increasing dosage of CN and curing temperature, the hydration products formed is different.in CAC systems with CN, NO3-AFm and NO3-AFt are more preferred than CAH10 and C2AH8 and are more thermostable than those typically hydrates. In the presence of CN, The phase conversion to a large extent can be avoided and the compressive strength is significantly improved. The CN dosage has a very important effect on CAC systems with CN. In this study, the optimum dosage for CN is 10 percent. This study may provide a new insight into avoiding the unstable phase conversion in calcium aluminate cements.

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The effect of calcium nitrate on the hydration of calcium aluminate cement at different curing temperatures

University of Leeds

Phase conversion in calcium aluminate cements (CAC) induces significant volumetric instability; it would result in an increase in porosity and decrease in strength in CAC. In this study, calcium nitrate (CN) as a phase conversion inhibitor, the effect of CN on the hydration of CAC at different curing temperatures was studied. Xray diffraction, thermal analysis, SEM, isothermal calorimetry and the compressive strength were conducted on the CAC dosages of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%CN cured at 20�, 30�, 40� and 50�. The results show CN can retard CAC hydration, alter the characters of the hydrates of CAC systems and avoid the conversion process. With increasing dosage of CN and curing temperature, the hydration products formed is different.in CAC systems with CN, NO3-AFm and NO3-AFt are more preferred than CAH10 and C2AH8 and are more thermostable than those typically hydrates. In the presence of CN, The phase conversion to a large extent can be avoided and the compressive strength is significantly improved. The CN dosage has a very important effect on CAC systems with CN. In this study, the optimum dosage for CN is 10 percent. This study may provide a new insight into avoiding the unstable phase conversion in calcium aluminate cements.