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Ettringite instability analysis in the hydration process of the supersulfated cement

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Abstract

The search for new materials to replace Portland cement (PC) has increased due to the high release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the exploration of raw materials for its production. In this case, supersulfated cement (SSC) appears as an option. SSC consists of up to 90% blast furnace slag and small percentages of calcium sulfate and alkaline activator. This cement has some characteristics similar to PC with the advantage of using less raw material. However, some studies have identified the instability of the ettringite formed in the hydration of SSC although this phenomenon has not been studied in detail in previous research. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the behavior of different supersulfated cement compositions, comparing the hydration processes, and identifying the influence of their chemical composition on the instability of ettringite. Microstructural analyses of XRD, TGA, and SEM showed instability of the phases formed from all SSC compositions at 49 days of curing. Mechanical strength and calorimetry analyses showed the best behavior using gypsum as a source of calcium sulfate. Also, the SSC with the highest calcium sulfate content showed lower instability of ettringite and greater compressive strength.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Post-Graduation Programs in Civil Engineering (PPGEC) of the Federal Technological University of Parana (UTFPR). The authors also thank the Brazilian Federal Agency for the Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico and Tecnológico—CNPQ), the Araucária Foundation, the National Water Agency (Agência Nacional de Águas) and the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) for their support in conducting this study.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil

    Priscila O. Trentin

  2. Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal Technological University of Parana (UTFPR), Curitiba, Brazil

    Mariana Perardt

  3. Civil Engineering Studies Center (CESEC), Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal University of Parana-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil

    Ronaldo A. Medeiros-Junior

  4. Curitiba, Parana, 81531-970, Brazil

    Priscila O. Trentin

Authors
  1. Priscila O. Trentin
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  2. Mariana Perardt
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  3. Ronaldo A. Medeiros-Junior
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Contributions

P.O.T. contributed to conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing—original draft; M.P. contributed to investigation, methodology, formal analysis; R.A.M.-J. contributed to conceptualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, investigation, supervision.

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Correspondence to Priscila O. Trentin.

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Trentin, P.O., Perardt, M. & Medeiros-Junior, R.A. Ettringite instability analysis in the hydration process of the supersulfated cement. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 6631–6642 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-11005-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-11005-9

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