Search

This work studies the effect of nanosilica (NS) on the rheology of cement paste by comparing it with two high specific surface area silicas: silica fume (SF) and pyrogenic silica (PS). Portland cement pastes were produced with different water-to-cementing material ratios and different solid substitutions of cement by silica. Water demand, setting time, and rheology tests were performed. Results showed that NS and SF decreased plastic viscosity, while PS increased it. Only PS was found to have an effect on yield stress. NS showed the most decreasing effect on viscosity, regardless of its higher water demand. It was concluded that the behavior of pastes containing NS and SF is governed by the “ball-bearing” effect from silica particles, by their agglomeration degree, and their impact on the solid volume fraction. The behavior of pastes containing PS is governed by its ability to absorb a portion of the mixing water.

Physical and mechanical properties of a plaster paste added with an organic admixture, of the leaves of Agave americana, were studied. Plastic consistency behavior was evaluated and the water/gypsum(w/g) ratio was determined for each dosage of the admixture. Admixtur eeffect on setting was evaluated too. The chemical transformation of the hemihydrated form to gypsum (dihydrated form) was studied using a novel technique based on a moisture analyzer by halogen light. Flexural and compressive strengths were measured. The results show that ,for the same consistency, accordingly mechanical strengths were improved too. The setting times were increased which would enhance the application time of plaster and would reduce plastic shrinkage, common problems in this type of material. The changes in these physical properties not substantially affect the final mechanical strengths.

The fluidized-bed catalytic cracking catalyst (FCC) it is a residue from the industry of the petroleum that shows a high pozzolanic reactivity and, in cementing matrix, it significantly improves their mechanical behaviour as well as durability. In this research a comparative study on residues of catalyst from different sources has been carried out, in order to know if these residues can be used jointly in an indiscriminate way or, on the contrary, it is necessary to classify them according to their characteristics. Thus, a study on five different FCC residues, supplied from different companies, has been carried out, and their physical-chemical characteristics, pozzolanic reactivity by means of thermogravimetric analysis and the evolution of the mechanical strength of mortars were studied. After analyzing all the aspects, it can be concluded that no significant differences among the different tested catalysts were found.

A very simple method based on electrical conductivity and pH measurements was proposed for assessing reactivity of pozzolans. Calcium hydroxide:pozzolan water suspensions were monitored by means of measurements of electrical conductivity and pH values. In these suspensions, Ca(OH)2 in solid state was initially present, being them, thus, saturated in this reagent. Three testing temperatures were selected (40, 50 and 60 °C). In the experiments carried out, calcium hydroxide was suspended in deionized water for yielding a lime saturated suspension. The addition of siliceous pozzolan (two types of rice husk ash RHA and two types of densified silica fume DSF were tested) to the saturated lime suspension can produce the unsaturation of the system, depending on the testing time, testing temperature and reactivity of pozzolan. When unsaturation was reached, the loss of electrical conductivity was higher than 30% and the variation of pH was higher than 0.15 units. These threshold values were selected for characterizing the reactivity of pozzolans by means of a proposed template, classifying the pozzolan in three different reactivity levels.

The present study explored the technological feasibility of re-using sewage sludge ash (SSA) as a Portland cement replacement in commercially manufactured pre cast concrete blocks. The blocks analysed were made to the guidelines laid down in Spain’s National Plan for Waste Water Treatment Plant Sludge, 2001–2006, and European Union specifications (CE marking) for such products. Performance was compared in three families of blocks, with 0, 10 and 20% SSA. The findings proved that SSA is apt for pre cast concrete block manufacture and that, in addition to the economic and environmental benefits afforded, its use would improve certain of the properties of conventional block.