Yujun Che

Understanding the degradation of 3D-printed cement paste (3DPC) is essential to evaluate changes in the long-term durability of concrete structures subjected to aggressive water. However, the degradation mechanism of 3DPC has yet to be reported, as the microstructure and pore characteristics of 3DPC are very different from those of its cast counterparts. This work studies the performance anisotropy of 3DPC due to calcium leaching to investigate the degradation mechanism. Samples with aggregate micro fines (AMF) and fly ash (FA) were prepared. A 6 mol/L NH₄Cl solution was used in the accelerated experiment. At specific leaching durations, performances were tested on the samples in different leaching directions. The performance anisotropy of 3DPC exposed to aggressive water was investigated by comparing the changes in bulk density, water absorption, leaching depths, and compressive strength in different leaching directions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal gravity-thermogravimetric (DTG−TG), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were used to characterize the changes in hydration products and pore structure in different leaching directions. The results show that the performances of 3DPC in aggressive water have a significant anisotropic behavior. The evolution of pore defects and hydration products mainly governs the performance anisotropy of degraded 3DPC. The remaining hydration products of the surface of 3DPC leached in the Z direction are fewer than the other two directions because calcium ions leached in the Z direction are difficult to compensate through weak interfaces between layers. The test results clearly show that the calcium leaching mechanism of 3DPC in aggressive water is directly influenced by the hydration products, such as portlandite (CH) and C-S-H, and the pores. The current study may help us understand the degradation mechanism of 3DPC to assess its durability performance anisotropy.

During recycling waste concrete, a large amount of waste concrete powder (WCP) is generated. However, efficient utilization of WCP remains an unresolved issue. This paper investigates the influences of WCP on the properties and hydration products of cement mortar containing fly ash (FA). This study used two different types of WCPs. One was made from an ordinary Portland cement mortar, and the other was derived from a Portland cement mortar. WCP replaced 10%, 20%, and 30% of FA. The water requirement, setting time, flow index, strength, hydration products, and microstructure of FA mortar incorporating WCP were investigated. Test results indicate that the WCP has no significant influence on the performances and hydration products of FA mortar. By adequately combining WCP and FA, the FA mortar with required performances could be reached.

This paper focuses on inspecting the influences of anti-foaming agent (AFA) on the performance of 3D printing cementitious materials (3DPC). The mini-slump, spreading diameter, yield stress, and strength of 3DPC were evaluated. Additionally, the air-void content, air-void morphology, and air-void size distribution of mortar with and without 0.05% AFA were assessed through image analysis. The mechanical performance and air-void structure of 3D printed samples were also investigated and compared to that of conventionally mould cast samples. Test results show that an optimal AFA content enables 3DPC to achieve favorable workability and mechanical performance. The addition of AFA exhibits lower air-void content in 3DPC than that of the sample without the AFA addition. This reduction in air-void content is further strengthened by the results of strength analysis. Electron microscope analysis shows that the use of AFA results in the suppressed formation of large air-voids during the process of fresh 3DPC. Moreover, the air-void morphology substantially influenced the mechanical performance of hardened 3DPC.

Ground phosphorous slag (PS) has not been widely used in construction due to its negative effects on the early-age performances of cementitious materials. The effects of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (NC) on strength development of mortar containing high content of PS were investigated at different curing ages. The NC was incorporated at 2% as partial mass replacements for binder. Hydration products and microstructure characterization was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal gravity (DTG), thermogravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Test results showed that NC improved both flexural and compressive strength of mortar containing high content of PS at 7, 28, 56, and 90 days. XRD, DTG-TG, and SEM analysis confirmed the filling effect of NC. Furthermore, the formation of the carboaluminate even at later age also improved the microstructure of mortar, which created a denser microstructure.

The mechanisms underlying the effects of nano-calcium carbonate (NC) on the strength of high volume fly ash (FA) mortar are discussed. Two NCs are used as 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of cementitious materials. Hydrated products of fly ash mortar containing NC was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal gravity (DTG) analysis. Results indicate that NC could improve strength of FA mortar due to the more rapid growth of hydrated products induced by NC through additional nucleation sites. Corresponding to the highest measured strength of FA mortar, the optimal contents of NC are around 2%. In addition, the presence of 2% NC improved the microstructure of FA mortar after 180 days due to the formation of calcium carbonaluminate hydrate.

The calcium leaching behavior of cement paste and silica fume modified calcium hydroxide paste, exposed to hydrochloric acid solution, is reported in this paper. The kinetic of degradation was assessed by the changes of pH of hydrochloric acid solution with time. The changes of compressive strength of specimens in hydrochloric acid with time were tested. Hydration products of leached specimens were also analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG), and atomic force microscope (AFM). Tests results show that there is a dynamic equilibrium in the supply and consumption of calcium hydroxide in hydrochloric acid solution, which govern the stability of hydration products such as calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). The decrease of compressive strength indicates that C-S-H are decomposed due to the lower concentration of calcium hydroxide in the pore solution than the equilibrium concentration of the hydration products. Furthermore, the hydration of unhydrated clinker delayed the decomposition of C-S-H in hydrochloric acid solution due to the increase of calcium hydroxide in pore solution of cementitious materials.

The agglomeration of nano‐CaCO₃ (NC) is the largest bottleneck in applications in cementitious materials. If nano‐CaCO₃ modifies the surface of micron‐scale limestone powder (LS), then it will form nano‐CaCO₃/limestone composite particles (NC/LS). It is known that micron‐scale limestone is easily dispersed, and the “dispersion” of NC is governed by that of LS. Therefore, the dispersion of nano‐CaCO₃ can be improved by the NC/LS in cementitious materials. In this work, the preparation of NC/LS was carried out in a three‐necked flask using the Ca(OH)₂‐H₂O‐CO₂ reaction system. The morphology of NC/LS was observed by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM). The effects of NC/LS on the hydration products and pore structure of cementitious materials are proposed. 5% NC/LS was added into cement paste and mortar, and the mechanical properties of the specimens were measured at a certain age. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TG), and backscattered electron imaging (BSE) were conducted on the specimens to investigate the hydration products and pore structure. The properties of specimens with NC/LS were compared to that of control specimens (without NC/LS). The results revealed that NC/LS reduced the porosity and improved the mechanical properties of the cementitious materials.