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The use of thermal analysis in the approximate determination of the cement content in concrete

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Abstract

Thermal analysis was first used to investigate the pattern of dissociation of hydrated ordinary Portland cement. Portlandite (Ca(OH)2) decomposes at about 500°C. This was confirmed by kinetic calculations. Thermal analysis was then performed to establish the effect of varying the cement content on the percent mass loss associated with the decomposition of Ca(OH)2 in cement mortar cured for 28 days. An increasing relation was obtained. Standard concrete cubes were then prepared with cement contents ranging from 200 to 450 kg m-3. The loss in mass on heating, up to 750°C, of concrete samples cured for 28 days was then related to the cement content in concrete. The relation obtained was tested for concrete cubes of known cement content and found to be in better agreement than the results obtained by conventional chemical analysis. This method can be used for an approximate determination of the cement content in concrete.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Cairo University, Egypt

    I. A. Ibrahim

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Cairo University, Egypt

    H. H. ElSersy & M. F. Abadir

Authors
  1. I. A. Ibrahim
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  2. H. H. ElSersy
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  3. M. F. Abadir
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. H. ElSersy.

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Ibrahim, I.A., ElSersy, H.H. & Abadir, M.F. The use of thermal analysis in the approximate determination of the cement content in concrete. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 76, 713–718 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JTAN.0000032255.58397.4b

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JTAN.0000032255.58397.4b

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