Monika Čáchová

Application of waste ceramic dust as a ready-to-use replacement of cement in lime-cement plasters: an environmental-friendly and energy-efficient solution

A potential application of waste ceramic dust as cement replacement in lime-cement plasters is studied using both experimental and computational approaches. A comprehensive experimental analysis of the material properties of lime-cement plaster and three lime-pozzolan plasters containing different amounts of waste ceramics is performed at first. The results show that compressive strength of ceramics-containing plasters can be up to three times higher as compared with the lime-cement plaster but their thermal conductivity is higher as well. In the second part of the study, the hygrothermal and energy performance of a characteristic building envelope provided with the four analyzed plasters as surface layers is analyzed. The results of numerical simulations reveal that the application of waste ceramic dust in lime-pozzolan plasters does not have a negative effect on both the hygrothermal and energy performance of the building envelope, as compared with the use of lime-cement plaster. Taking into account the energy demand and environmental load related to cement production, the application of waste ceramic dust as a ready-to-use replacement of cement in lime-cement plasters represents the right step toward sustainable development.

Basic and Hygric Properties of Concrete Containing Fine Ceramic Powder

The motivation for utilization of active admixtures in concrete lies primarily in a positive effect on properties of hardened concrete with regard to its durability. Fine parts complement the grain size distribution curve, but also due to subsequent hydration arise phases with better resistance to aggressive substances from surrounding environment. Process of pozzolanic reaction is also associated with a reduction in open capillary porosity, causing a gradual reduction of the permeability of concrete. The paper presents an experimental program focused on the monitoring of evolution of basic and hygric properties of concrete with fine ceramic powder addition.

UHPFRC at high temperatures – Simultaneous thermal analysis and thermodilatometry

Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA) and Thermodilatometry Analysis (TDA) are done to reveal the structural and chemical changes in UHPFRC during its high-temperature load. Based on the measured results, several physical and chemical processes that studied material underwent at high-temperatures are recognized. In the temperature interval from 25 to 300 °C, the liberation of physically bound water from pores and the dehydration reaction of C-S-H take place. Additionally, AFt and AFm phases dehydrate at 110 – 156 °C. Endothermic peat at 460 °C corresponds to the portlandite decomposition. At 575 °C, the α → β transformation of quartz is found. This reaction is accompanied by a sharp endothermic heat flow peak and a volume expansion, whereas no change of mass is measured. In the temperature interval 580-800 °C, the calcite and C-S-H gels decomposition is monitored. At the temperature above 800 °C, there is one significant exothermal peak corresponding to a crystallization of wollastonite. In summary, STA and...

Influence of weather-affected material characteristics on appearance of freeze/thaw cycles in building envelopes

The possible appearance of freeze/thaw cycles in external wall made of selected building material is assessed within this paper. Main objective of the presented research is to investigate the influence of weather-affected material characteristics on that phenomenon. For this sake, the samples were exposed to long-term weathering while the material characteristics were determined in the beginning of the experiment and then after two and three years. The comparative simulations of coupled heat and moisture transport inside the wall when exposed to dynamic climatic conditions were subsequently performed using reference and weather affected data. The results revealed that hygric parameters of the material, in particular, got worse which led also to deterioration of hygrothermal performance of the studied construction. The time of wetness under the external surface was twice as high when weather-affected data had been assumed. The number of possible freeze/thaw cycles was higher as well.

Pore System and Hydric Properties of Two Different Lime Plasters with Finely Crushed Brick

Two different lime plasters with finely crushed brick are studied in this article. In the first plaster the pozzolan mixture was used as silica sand while in the second it was dosed as replacement of the lime substitute and silica sand (the substitution levels being 20% and 50%). Classic lime plaster was used as a reference material. Studied parameters were basic physical properties (measured by water vacuum saturation and by helium pycnometry), characterization of pore system (by mercury porosimetry) and transport of liquid water.

Basic Physical and Mechanical Properties of Composites Based on Three Different Cements

This article is focused on cement based composites. Two cements differing in mineralogical composition are utilised as main binder in composites mixtures. Results of measured physical parameters of studied materials are presented. For the sake of comparison, a reference material with Portland cement was also prepared. Basic physical properties (measured by water vacuum saturation method and by helium pycnometry), characterizations of pore system (determined by mercury porosimetry) and mechanical properties are the matter of this study. Composites show various open porosity; the results of open porosity of materials containing special cements show higher values, in comparison with composite based on Portland cement. This fact of course influences other material characteristics - mainly mechanical properties.

Hygric Properties of HPC with Natural Pozzolana

The water vapour transport and the liquid water transport of high performance concrete (HPC) with the content of natural pozzolana are the described in this paper. Studied properties are presented by means of water vapour diffusion coefficient, water vapour diffusion resistance factor and absorption coefficient respectively. The natural pozzolana (NP), namely natural zeolite, is used as supplementary cementitious material which affects the durability properties of the end product. The obtained results revealed the effectiveness of NP in the terms of both studied properties when used in small amounts, i.e. at about 20% of cement weight. On the other hand substitutions higher than 40% result in worsening of the resistance of the concrete to water and water vapour ingress and its movement trough the material.

Monitoring of Kinetics of Pozzolanic Reaction

The pozzolanic additions are widely used as concrete component for numerous technical, economic and environmental reasons. Obviously the hydration process in a pozzolana containing system differs from hydration of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) what is indicated macroscopically by slower increase of strength and lower hydration heat. This paper aims to study pozzolanic reaction from perspective of chemical kinetics. From this point of view pozzolanic reaction and carbonation are two parallel reactions which are competing for portlandite (Ca (OH)2). The rate of each of these two reactions is characterized by rate constant and order of reaction. The system under study was 1:1 mixture lime – ceramic powder. The course of reaction was primarily studied by thermogravimetry which results were further subjected to kinetic analysis. MAS NMR spectroscopy was used for study of structural changes taking place in material in the course of pozzolanic reaction.

Comparison of the Effects of Different Pozzolana on the Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

The article compares the basic physical, mechanical and both liquid water and water vapour transport properties of self-compacting concrete containing different pozzolanic admixtures. Limestone, fly ash and metakaolin were used. A concrete mixture without any pozzolana was also manufactured as a reference. The best values of studied properties were recorded for the metakaolin concrete.

Water Vapor Diffusion and Adsorption of Sandstones: Influence of Rock Texture and Composition

The term sandstone is used for wide range of rocks containing quartz clasts which can be cemented by secondary precipitated quartz or calcite; moreover the space between clasts can be filled by matrix. These facts result in existence of numerous rocks having highly various properties. Sandstones have been used as construction materials due to their good accessibility and workability. Since most of sandstones are porous, water vapor can penetrate through sandstone constructions. The rate of water vapor diffusion, as well as the vapor sorption isotherm, was determined for range of sandstone types. The diffusion resistance factor was found to be dependent on the total porosity of sandstone but the sorption behavior was strongly influenced by nature of the particular sandstone; the specific surface area of stone and presence of clay matrix are determining its sorption isotherm. The published data enable estimating (i) diffusion resistance factor of a sandstone via knowledge of its total porosity and (ii) the sorption isotherm via knowledge of the stone’s nature and specific surface area. This approach can significantly reduce the time necessary to acquire vapor-related properties of a sandstone.