0000000000336422
AUTHOR
C. Cau Dit Coumes
Influence of temperature on the hydration products of low pH cements
International audience; The chemical evolution of two hydrated "low pH" binders prepared from binary (60% Portland cement + 40% silica fume) or ternary (37.5% Portland cement +32.5% silica fume + 30% fly-ash) mixtures was characterized over one year at 20 degrees C. 50 degrees C, and 80 degrees C. The main hydrates were Al-substituted C-S-H. Raising the temperature from 20 to 80 degrees C caused a lengthening and cross-linking of their silicate chains. Ettringite that formed in pastes stored at 20 degrees C was destabilized. Only traces of calcium sulfate (gypsum and/or anhydrite) reprecipitated after one year in some materials cured at 50 degrees C and 80 degrees C. The sulfates released w…
Retention of alkali ions by hydrated low-pH cements: Mechanism and Na+/K+ selectivity
Low-pH cements, also referred to as low-alkalinity cements, can be designed by replacing significant amounts of Portland cement by pozzolanic materials. Their pore solution is characterized by a pH near 11, and an alkali concentration much lower than that of Portland cement. This work investigates the retention of sodium and potassium by a hydrated low-pH cement comprising 60% Portland cement and 40% silica fume. It is shown that sorption of potassium is higher than that of sodium and mainly results from counterion charge balancing of the C-S-H negative surface charge. To explain the greater retention of potassium compared to sodium, it is postulated that potassium, unlike sodium, may enter…
Effect of blastfurnace slag addition to Portland cement for cationic exchange resins encapsulation
In the nuclear industry, cement-based materials are extensively used to encapsulate spent ion exchange resins (IERs) before their final disposal in a repository. It is well known that the cement has to be carefully selected to prevent any deleterious expansion of the solidified waste form, but the reasons for this possible expansion are not clearly established. This work aims at filling the gap. The swelling pressure of IERs is first investigated as a function of ions exchange and ionic strength. It is shown that pressures of a few tenths of MPa can be produced by decreases in the ionic strength of the bulk solution, or by ion exchanges (2Na + instead of Ca 2+ , Na + instead of K + ). Then,…
Investigation of the swelling behavior of cationic exchange resins saturated with Na+ ions in a C3S paste
Ion exchange resins (IERs) are widely used by the nuclear industry to decontaminate radioactive effluents. Spent products are usually encapsulated in cementitious materials. However, the solidified waste form can exhibit strong expansion, possibly leading to cracking, if the appropriate binder is not used. In this work, the interactions between cationic resins in the Na+ form and tricalcium silicate are investigated during the early stages of hydration in order to gain a better understanding of the expansion process. It is shown that the IERs exhibit a transient swelling of small magnitude due to the decrease in the osmotic pressure of the external solution. This expansion, which occurs jus…
Solidification of ion exchange resins saturated with Na+ ions: Comparison of matrices based on Portland and blast furnace slag cement
International audience; Ion exchange resins (IERs) are widely used by the nuclear industry to decontaminate radioactive effluents. After use, they are usually stabilized and solidified by encapsulation in cementitious materials. However, for certain combinations of cement and resins, the solidified waste forms can exhibit strong expansion, possibly leading to cracking of the matrix. In this work, the behaviour of cationic resins in the Na$^+$ form is investigated in Portland cement (CEM I) or blast furnace slag cement (CEM III/C) pastes at early age in order to have a better understanding of the swelling process. The results show that during the hydration of the CEM I paste, the resins exhi…