OBJECTIVES: This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching and airborne particle abrasion on zirconia bond strength, using three different types of cement. To assess the impact of hydrofluoric acid etching on zirconia surface roughness and investigate the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching on zirconia's surface topography, microstructure, and crystal structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crown-abutment simulation systems were constructed, using a custom-made zirconia tapered ring model and tapered titanium pin-abutments. Twelve groups were included in the study and classified according to the surface treatment and type of cement used. Each group had 10 specimens for a total of 120 test specimens. The fully sintered zirconia ring was alumina particle abrasion (APA) treated with a 50-μm alumina and/or etched with 9.5% HF acid, solution for 1 minute. The Ti pin was APA treated with 125-μm alumina. Three different types of cement were used: one RMGIC (GC FujiCem Evolve) and two resin composite types of cement (Panavia SA Universal and Panavia V5). A cementing jig was used to standardize the cementation process of the titanium pins to the zirconia rings. An Instron was used to obtain the retention load values. The failure load between the zirconia ring and the titanium pin was determined using an axial pullout test and the values were statistically analyzed for the effects of etching treatment, APA treatment, and cement type using JMP Pro 16. Zirconia-disk specimens were constructed using a custom-made disk model. Thirteen groups were included in the study and classified according to the hydrofluoric acid etching concentrations, consistencies, and timing used. Each group had 3 specimens. The total specimen size was thirty-nine specimens. Disks were polished and etched using 5% HF, 9.5% HF, and 40% HF acid etching concentrations, gel, and solution consistencies, and for 1 and 15 minutes of etching time. Disks were examined with an SEM, X-Ray diffractometer, and a profilometer for microstructure, crystallography, and surface roughness, respectively. RESULTS: HF acid-etching treatment significantly increased retention load compared to non-etched groups. There was no significant difference in retention load between APA-treated and non-APA-treated groups. Groups cemented with Panavia V5 showed a higher retention load compared to GC FujiCem Evolve and Panavia SA Universal. There was no significant difference in the surface roughness among the etched groups and the control groups. Roughening of the crystal boundaries with irregularities and pits was observed under SEM. As etching time and concentration increased the surface became rougher and more irregular. There were no obvious crystal structure differences between the etched groups and non-etched groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly different retention loads were found among tested groups. Hydrofluoric acid etching increases the bond strength of zirconia and titanium, using resin composite cement. Using hydrofluoric acid etching to pre-treat the zirconia surface may be an alternative approach to obtain sufficient bonding strength.

No / As the weakest zone in concrete, the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregates and cement mortars has important effects on the properties of concrete. This paper aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of nanofillers on the bond strength and interfacial microstructures between aggregates and cement mortars. A total of 8 representative types of nanofillers (namely nano-SiO2, nano-TiO2, nano-ZrO2, untreated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), hydroxyl-functionalized MWCNTs, nickel-coated MWCNTs, multi-layer graphenes (MLGs), and nano boron nitride (nano-BN)) were selected to fabricate specimens with scale-up aggregate-cement mortar interface that can be characterized by the three-point bend test. The experimental results indicate that all types of nanofillers can enhance the bond strength between aggregates and cement mortars. The highest relative/absolute increases of 2.1 MPa/35.1%, 2.32 MPa/38.8% and 2.56 MPa/42.8% in interfacial bond strength are achieved by incorporating 2 wt% of nano-ZrO2, 0.3 wt% of nickel-coated MWCNTs, and 0.3 wt% of nano-BN, respectively. Scanning electron microscope observations show the presence of nanofillers can improve hydration products and increase interfacial compactness. Energy dispersive spectrometer results suggest that local content of nanofillers in the ITZ is higher than that in the bulk cement mortars. These findings indicate the nanofillers can transfer with water migration toward aggregates and enrich in ITZ, thus improving the bond strength and interfacial microstructures between aggregates and cement mortars through the nano-core effect. / National Science Foundation of China (51978127 and 51578110), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China(DUT18GJ203)

This thesis describes and discusses the application of System Dynamics methodology as a basis for formulating diversification strategy and control policies of the largest diversifying cement company in the 'United Kingdom. The problems of the industry such as stagnant growth, cyclic and seasonal variations in cement demand, and overcapacity are described. The formulation of a SD model of the situation which captures these problems together with its equations system are presented. The model also simulates the planning and control processes for the selection, initiation and completion of both expansion and diversification investment projects. It is argued and demonstrated that the fact that these processes consist of feedback loops should and could be utilized for understanding these processes, advancing complementary theoretical concepts, and designing and formulating more 'effective systems and decision rules. An intensive analysis of the model in SD frameworks further supports these arguments. These analyses reveal the nature of the system's dynamic properties and its likely developments, the dynamic and situational nature of diversification effectiveness, and the importance of several diversification decision factors. These analyses also show how complex the formulation of a thorough and effective diversification strategy may become together with the ways and means of dealing with these complexities.. It is concluded that the thrust of an effective diversification lies with the broadening of the conventional theoretical concepts and analysis to include the dynamic characteristics of the system. It is also concluded and shown that System Dynamics methodology can provide a strong analytical basis for achieving these ends.

Concrete is the most common building material in the world and is used for structures in all partsof society. As the world is facing a major transition towards more environmentally friendlycommunities, concrete needs to be adapted accordingly. One of the most important componentsof concrete is cement, which accounts for 10-20 percent of the mixture. Despite its lowpercentage, the cement industry is responsible for approximately seven percent of global carbondioxide emissions. In order to make concrete more environmentally friendly, the industry isexploring the possibilities of replacing cement with various supplementary materials. One suchmaterial currently being investigated is natural pozzolans.The purpose of this thesis is to examine the potential of the natural pozzolans VPI 1 and VPI 2 atdifferent replacement levels and curing ages. The goal is to find an optimal replacement level forthe two supplementary materials. What differentiates VPI 1 from VPI 2 is that they are taken fromdifferent open pits. To determine this, concrete mixtures with varying levels of replacement of VPI1 and VPI 2 have been cast and subjected to compression testing. To assess their potential,these mixtures are compared to a reference concrete. This reference concrete does not containany supplementary materials, only rapid-hardening Portland cement.The results show that a replacement level of 25 percent for VPI 1 and 35 percent for VPI 2achieves the highest compressive strengths after 56 days. After 56 days, the reference concreteachieved a compressive strength of 71.25 MPa, while VPI 1 - 25 percent reached 86.75 MPa andVPI 2 - 35 percent reached 74.75 MPa.

One of the benefits of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cements is that these materials gain strength rapidly, where strength development is often measured in hours instead of days. This property makes these materials desirable for use in temporary, non-reinforced repairs of roadways, airfields, and navigable locks. The rapid repair of these infrastructure elements is critical to transporting supplies into regions devastated by disaster. In these austere environments, potable water may not be available in sufficient quantities to make vital repairs, and the use of impure water in the production of CSA cement-based concrete would be advantageous. However, the hydration products formed by CSA cement are substantially different from those formed by portland cement and may react differently to impurities that water sources may contain. This Thesis investigates the impact of various salts and impure water sources on the early-age strength development of commercially-available CSA cement-based concrete.

Cement stabilized material used for subbase or base pavement layers has been a widely accepted practice by many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs); particularly, for DOTs with limited access to quality crushed aggregates for pavement construction. Despite over 100 years of use, construction specifications governing cement stabilized pavement layers have largely remained the same and are primarily method based specifications (i.e. individual components evaluated and construction methods prescribed) rather than evaluating or testing mechanical properties of the end product. With the recent emergence of the Plastic Mold compaction Device (PM Device), multiple agencies are looking to depart from method based soil-cement specifications by implementing the PM Device for design and construction quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) testing. Prior to this dissertation, PM Device protocols have been validated under lab conditions but only limited field validation had been performed. Additionally, time delay between initial mixing and compaction of cement stabilized soils is a known issue, which can affect compaction of PM Device specimens as well as construction target density values determined through AASHTO T134 Proctor testing. The main objectives of this dissertation are to investigate time delay effects on cement stabilized soil compactability during Proctor testing, develop a nationally recognized Standard Practice for PM Device specimen fabrication, and perform PM Device field evaluations for QC/QA testing. Lab experiments were conducted to investigate time delay effects and finalize PM Device Standard Practice protocols. Five field projects were evaluated to validate PM Device QC/QA applications and Standard Practice protocols in a construction environment. Time delay was observed to have a notable detrimental influence on compactability during AASHTO T134 Proctor testing and PM Device specimen fabrication. Recommended guidance was provided to characterize compaction delay effects. AASHTO PP92-19 was developed and published by AASHTO's Committee on Materials and Pavements to standardize specimen fabrication for the 3x6 inch and 4x8 inch versions of the PM Device. The PM Device fared well for construction activities when benchmarked relative to density, strength, and modulus of cores taken from constructed cement stabilized pavement layers. The PM Device was recommended for implementation consideration by state DOTs and other agencies.

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