Acrylic bone cements are used in dentistry and orthopedic surgery to fix prosthetic devices into the bone. Bone cements transfer and distribute the applied load and increase the load-carrying capacity of the prosthesis/cement/bone system with the help of mechanical bonding between the device and the bone. In spite of all their advantages, bone cements have several drawbacks such as insufficient mechanical properties, high exothermic polymerization temperature, release of monomer to the environmental tissue and loosening of implant. Studies are being carried out to improve bone cement formulations with low curing temperature, good mechanical properties and good biocompatibility. In this study, bone cements with different compositions were prepared by using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres, barium sulphate (BaSO4) radiopaque agent, inorganic hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and 1-dodecyl mercaptan (DDM) chain stopping agent. Mechanical and thermal properties of the prepared bone cements were examined. When 8% hydroxyapatite was added into the formulation, both tensile and compressive strengths were increased and curing temperature was decreased. Addition of 13% BaSO4 caused 0.98% and 10.29% decrease in tensile and compressive strength values, respectively. Addition of 1%, 2% and 3% DDM, relative to the amount of methyl methacrylate monomer, decreased the maximum temperature from 101.78&deg / C to 91.80&deg / C, 78.38&deg / C and 71.35&deg / C, respectively. All compositions of the prepared bone cements fulfilled the minimum compressive strength (70 MPa) requirement and the minimum curing temperature was obtained as 71.35&deg / C. In order to have optimum desired properties, further studies to improve biocompatibility, mechanical and thermal properties of bone cements are needed.

Perlite is a glassy volcanic rock that contains approximately 70-75% silica and 12-18% alumina. There are very large perlite reserves in the world (~6700 million tons) and approximately two thirds of these is in Turkey. Due to its high amounts of silica and alumina, at the beginning of such a study, it seemed that it would be worth first to find out whether perlite possesses sufficient pozzolanic property when it is a finely divided form and then to investigate whether it could be used as a pozzolanic addition in producing blended cements. In this study, perlites from two different regions (izmir and Erzincan) were tested for their pozzolanic properties. After obtaining satisfactory results, grindability properties of the clinker, perlites and their different combinations were investigated. Several blended cements with different fineness values and different perlite amounts were produced by either intergrinding or separate grinding methods. The tests performed on the cement pastes and mortars containing the blended cements produced were as follows: Water requirement, normal consistency, setting time, soundness, compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability, resistance to sulfate attack and resistance to alkali-silica reactions. The results showed that Turkish perlites possess sufficient pozzolanic characteristics to be used in cement and concrete industry. Moreover, the properties tested in this study satisfied the requirements stated in the standards for blended cements. The durability of the mortars was found to be improved by 20% or more perlite incorporation.

Following Carslaw [1] and as discussed by Becker et al [2], the diffusion of ultrasonic energy in cement-based aggregates follow the heat diffusion equation. However, due to the finite size of the discs used in experiments by Becker, ultrasound energy is contained within the body for a longer period of time, as compared to [2]. Though the energy content of the disc in reality would eventually decay to zero, due to leaks and other mechanisms, a theoretical study of perfectly adiabatic case is useful to compare the residual energy values to material properties. As a particular example, the input energy sees multiple phenomena inside the material during propagation. The residual energy is this a combined effect of the multiple scattering, dissipative and diffusive processes. This objective of this thesis is to study the relationship between the residual spectral density and specimen geometry. The effort further aims to attribute the difference in the residual spectral energy density values in materials of similar geometry to the varying material properties of the heterogeneous materials. Finally, a study of the error propagation in the estimation is presented, along-with an analytical relationship showing the value of spectral energy density for discs of finite radius and height. Ref: 1. H. S. Carslaw, J.C.J., Conduction of Heat in Solids. 2nd ed ed. 1986: Oxford University Press, USA. 520 2. Becker, J., L.J. Jacobs, and J. Qu, Characterization of cement-based materials using diffuse ultrasound. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 2003. 129(12): p. 1478-1484.

Ultrasonic wave attenuation measurements have been used to successfully characterize the microstructure and material properties of inhomogeneous materials; these ultrasonic techniques have the potential to provide for the in situ characterization of heterogeneous, cement-based materials. Recent research has applied existing acoustic scattering models to predict ultrasonic attenuation in relatively simple cement-based materials with good results. The goal of the current research is to extend this past work and to investigate the influence of elastic inclusions in order to simulate a more realistic microstructure: a cement paste matrix material that contains both sand inclusions and air voids. The sand inclusions simulate fine aggregates as they are present in real civil engineering structures, while the air voids provide an additional microstructure that is present in concrete components. This research considers an independent scattering model as well as a self-consistent effective medium theory approach in order to model the scattering attenuation due to the sand inclusions in the cement paste matrix. The research develops a reliable measurement technique essential to assess the wave attenuation of the particulate materials. Subsequently, the ultrasonic wave attenuation is measured in cement paste specimens of various types. The measured attenuation is then compared to the model predictions and the results are discussed. Finally, theoretical approaches to model the described three-phase materials are presented and discussed.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-219). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-275).

Η παρούσα εργασία πραγματεύεται τόσο από θεωρητικής πλευράς το φαινόμενο της διεθνοποίησης και των εταιρικών στρατηγικών διεθνοποίησης, αλλά και πως αυτές εφαρμόζονται στην περίπτωση του Ομίλου ΤΙΤΑΝ. ‘Ετσι εξετάζουμε εκτενώς τις εταιρικές στρατηγικές διεθνούς επέκτασης του Ομίλου, ώστε αφ’ ενός να θεμελιώσει ένα γνωστικό υπόβαθρο στη μελέτη οργανισμών υπό το πρίσμα της διεθνοποίησης και αφ’ετέρου να εξακριβώσει την ύπαρξη συσχέτισης μεταξύ των θεωρητικών προσεγγίσεων και των ρεαλιστικών πρακτικών. Ο Όμιλος επιλέχθηκε για την μελέτη διεθνοποίησης και στρατηγικών ανάπτυξης μιας εταιρίας στο διεθνές περιβάλλον, λόγω της διαχρονικής εστίασης του σαν εταιρία σε διεθνοποίηση των δραστηριοτήτων του και στην γεωγραφική διαφοροποίησης του στις δραστηριότητες του. Επιπρόσθετα, ο ΤΙΤΑΝΑΣ αποτελεί την παλαιότερη τσιμεντοβιομηχανία της Ελλάδας και μια πολύ ισχυρή δύναμη στον κλάδο των δομικών υλικών τόσο στην εγχώρια όσο και στην παγκόσμια αγορά. Η έρευνα και η μελέτη της εργασίας μας βασίστηκε σε διάφορες πηγές πληροφοριών όπως το διαδίκτυο, τα πανεπιστημιακά βιβλία, σχετικά οικονομικά άρθρα καθώς και από συνεντεύξεις από στελέχη της εταιρίας ΤΙΤΑΝ και από τα οποία καταφέραμε να συγκεντρώσουμε αρκετά στοιχεία για την στρατηγική διεθνοποίησης που ακολουθεί η εταιρία ΤΙΤΑΝ. / -

Vid byggprojekt har det uppdagats fuktproblem i betongplattor där plastmattor har släppt från underlaget. Ett av problemen som beskyllts i media är förändringen från byggcement till bascement. Bascement är en cementsort som 14 % flygaska blandat med portlandklinker. Anledningen till att cementtillverkarna använder flygaska, som är en restprodukt från pulvereldade kolkraftverk, är att det ger minskade mängder portlandklinker som vid tillverkningen släpper ut stora mängder koldioxid. Cement är bindemedlet i betong och när flygaska används binds mindre mängd i vatten i betongens hydrationsprocess. För att undersöka vilken skillnad i uttorkning det finns i betong med bascement och byggcement gjöts två betongprover med samma betongrecept och VCT, men med respektive bascement och byggcement som bindemedel. Dessa betongprover förvarades i en uppvärmd lokal med låg relativ fuktighet. Fuktmätningarna utfördes enligt rådet för byggkompetens fuktmätningsmanual som är det gällande regelverket. Dessa resultat jämfördes med fuktprognoserna från TorkaS och BI Dry, som är de vanligaste fuktberäkningsprogrammen som används. Samtidigt intervjuades olika aktörer från byggbranschen för att undersöka hur de uppfattade problemet med uttorkning i betong. Fuktmätningarna visade ingen markant skillnad mellan betong med bascement och byggcement. Vid jämförelse med de prognosticerade värdena från fuktberäkningsprogrammen framkom att TorkaS värden var väldigt nära de uppmätta fuktvärdena, medans BI Dry:s värden låg långt under de uppmätta värdena. Vid intervjuerna framkom att byggbranschen har många frågor kring uttorkning i betong. Däremot finns svårigheter att avgöra vad som ligger till grund för problemen. Om det är bytet från byggcement till bascement eller om hanteringen av betongen i ett tidigt skede efter gjutningen som påverkar. Däremot om fuktfrågan tas upp i ett tidigt stadium i byggprocessen går det att bespara både tid och pengar. Byggbranschen behöver utbildas hur uttorkningens process ser ut för att öka förståelsen för problemet. / In construction projects, moisture problems have been discovered in concrete slabs where plastic mats have been released from the substrate. One of the problems reported in the media is the change from Portland cement to fly ash cement. Fly ash cement is a cement with 14% fly ash mixed with portland clinker. The reason that cement manufacturers use fly ash, which is a residual product from powder-fired coal power plants, is that it reduces the amount of portland clinkers that release large amounts of carbon dioxide during production. Cement is the concrete binder and when fly ashes are used, less amount of water is bound in the concrete's hydration process. To investigate the difference in dehydration found in concrete with fly ash cement and Portland cement, two concrete samples were obtained with the same concrete recipe and VCT numbers, but with different cement types. These concrete samples were stored in a heated local with low relative humidity. Moisture measurements were carried out according to the current regulations. These results were compared with the moisture predictions from TorkaS and BI Dry, which are the most commonly used moisture calculation programs. At the same time, various actors from the construction industry were interviewed to investigate how they perceived the problem of dehydration in concrete. The moisture measurements showed no significant difference between concrete with base cement and building cement. When compared with the forecasted values from the moisture calculation programs, it was found that the Dry values were very close to the measured moisture values, while BI Dry's values were well below the measured values. The interviews revealed that the construction industry has many questions about dehydration in concrete. On the other hand, there are difficulties in determining what is the basis for the problems. If there is a change from the portland cement to the fly ash cement, or the handling of the concrete at an early stage after the casting affects. However, if the moisture issue is taken up early in the construction process, it is possible to save both time and money. The construction industry needs to be educated how the process of desiccation works to increase understanding of the problem.

Embora o uso do cimento Portland com altos teores da fase alita [silicato tricálcico - C3S – (CaO)3.(SiO2)] seja difundido mundialmente, argumentos ambientais indicam a fabricação de cimentos com baixos teores desta fase e altos teores da fase belita [silicato dicálcico - C2S, (CaO)2.(SiO2)] justamente ao contrário do que é produzido atualmente. A alita tendo mais cálcio que a belita, libera mais CO2 para a atmosfera quando ocorre a decomposição do calcário (CaCO3 CaO + CO2 ) durante sua fabricação. Além disso, o C2S é formado a uma temperatura mais baixa (800 a 900ºC) que a temperatura em que o C3S (1350 a 1450ºC) é formado, necessitando desta forma, menos combustível e produzindo um cimento de moagem mais facilitada, tornando-o mais eco-eficiente. Um aspecto negativo dos cimentos belíticos é que os mesmos atingem seu nível máximo de resistência em idades mais avançadas, e este comportamento não é considerado adequado na indústria da construção civil atual, que busca alta produtividade em um curto espaço de tempo. Uma maneira de eliminar este problema seria acelerando as reações iniciais de hidratação e endurecimento. Uma alternativa à esta questão é combinar estes clínqueres belíticos com agentes expansivos de base sulfoaluminato ou em uma produção simultânea no clínquer, tais como os sulfoaluminato de cálcio belítico (CSAB), sendo estes ligantes considerados de baixo impacto ambiental. No entanto, o cimento CSAB requer uma maior quantidade de alumina, que geralmente é provinda da bauxita na sua fabricação. Devido ao elevado custo da bauxita para a produção deste cimento, a utilização de resíduos ricos em alumina é uma opção que pode agregar valor ao resíduo e aumentar a disponibilidade de ligantes de reduzido impacto ambiental. Desta forma, este trabalho apresenta uma alternativa para utilização do resíduo na produção do cimento CSAB. Foi realizada a caracterização físico-química do resíduo estudado, e são apresentados os resultados da produção de clínqueres CSAB formados a partir de três misturas, com variações no teor deste resíduo. As propriedades físico-mecânicas destes clínqueres foram avaliadas e comparadas com um clínquer referência e um cimento Portland comercial, da mesma forma, técnicas de difração de raio X, calorimetria e termogravimetria foram utilizadas para verificar a formação dos produtos de hidratação de pastas. Desta maneira, foi demonstrado que o aproveitamento do resíduo de anodização do alumínio para a produção do cimento CSAB é viável tecnicamente. O produto gerado possui características especiais, apresentando elevado desenvolvimento da resistência mecânica nas primeiras horas de hidratação. / Although currently Portland cement with high alite [(CaO)3.(SiO2)] content is the most used globally, environmental advices call for changes on the production for cements with lower alite and higher belite [(CaO)2.(SiO2)] contents. Alite, having more calcium than belite, releases more CO2 to the atmosphere in the course of cement manufacture, due to limestone decomposition (CaCO3 CaO + CO2 ). Besides, belite is formed at lower temperatures (800- 900ºC) than alite (1350-1450ºC), and for this reason less fuel is necessary for the process. Additionally, clinker is easier to grind, resulting in a less energy demanding and more sustainable process. However, belite cements reach the maximum strength level at later ages, drawing back the fast and active civil construction industry, which aims high productivity in a short time spam. In order to minimize this problem it is possible to accelerate the initial hydration reactions and hardening by combining the belite clinkers with expansive sulfoaluminate base agents, or in a simultaneous clinker production, such as calcium sulfoaluminate belite cements (CSAB). These binders have lower environmental impact. However, CSAB cement requires a higher amount of alumina, which comes from bauxite. As this material is costly, the use of alumina-rich residues comes as an option to aggregate value to the residue and to increase the availability of low environmental impact binders. This work presents an alternative use for alumina-rich residues in CSAB cement production. Physicochemical characterization of the aluminium anodizing sludge is presented together with results of the production of CSAB clinkers from 3 mixtures, with different residue content. Properties of the produced clinkers were evaluated and compared to a control clinker and to an ordinary Portland cement. X-ray diffraction, calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis track the formation of hydration products in the cement pastes. The use of aluminium anodizing sludge to produce CSAB cement was proved to be technically viable, as the generated product has special characteristics, presenting high mechanical strength development at the first hours of hydration.