Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:36:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thais dos Santos Souza.pdf: 11169057 bytes, checksum: 6c199918f7217137c24070f2ea4f8e6e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-13 / Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie / The suitable superplasticizers admixtures usage has become fundamental in the cementitious systems production (like concretes and mortars), because they interact with cement particles surfaces, causing their dispersion and deflocculation without the excessive water addition. The hardened material with a smaller water quantity acquires better positive, like higher compressive strength, lower permeability and extended durability. The major dispersants admixtures are negative charged polymers (polyelectrolytes) that are capable to adsorb on the cement particles and cause their electrostatic dispersion. Given the current environmental and economic interest in reuse of discarded materials, the purpose of this study was to assess the viability of use and application of modified post-consumer expanded polystyrene (EPS) as an admixture to cementitious systems becoming it a higher added value material. The modification of the EPS was performed by sulfonation and the interfering variables in the reaction were evaluated. The performance of the stabilized polyelectrolyte already formed (sodium polystyrene sulfonate NaPSS) as dispersant was verified in cement paste and mortar. The study showed that modification of post-consumer EPS by sulfonation reaction was carried out efficiently regarding to the production of a polyelectrolyte with a maximum degree of modification, within the conditions studied, and which variables most influence the reaction. Moreover, the product with a maximum degree of modification (most likely to interact with the cement) was not effective as a dispersant for cementitious systems, causing a decrease in the mechanical strength and plasticity evaluated. / O uso de aditivos plastificantes adequados tornou-se fundamental na produção de sistemas cimentícios (como por exemplo, concretos e argamassas), pois interagem com a superfície das partículas de cimento, provocando a dispersão e defloculação das mesmas, sem adição excessiva de água. O material endurecido adquire assim melhores propriedades, como maior resistência, menor permeabilidade e maior durabilidade. Grande parte dos aditivos dispersantes são polímeros dotados de cargas negativas (polieletrólitos), capazes de adsorver nas partículas de cimento e provocar sua dispersão eletrostática. Diante do atual interesse ambiental e econômico de reutilização dos materiais descartados, o propósito deste trabalho foi verificar a viabilidade do uso e aplicação do EPS pós-consumo modificado como aditivo plastificante de sistemas cimentícios, tornando-o um material de maior valor agregado. A modificação do EPS foi realizada via sulfonação, e as variáveis interferentes na reação foram avaliadas. O polieletrólito formado já estabilizado (poliestireno sulfonado de sódio PSSNa), teve seu desempenho como dispersante verificado em pasta de cimento e argamassa. O estudo mostrou que a modificação do EPS pós-consumo a partir da reação de sulfonação realizada foi eficiente com relação à produção de um polieletrólito com máximo grau de modificação, dentro das condições estudadas, e quais as variáveis que mais influenciam na reação. Por outro lado, o produto com máximo grau de modificação (mais passível de interação com o cimento) não se mostrou eficiente como dispersante de sistemas cimentícios, causando a diminuição da plasticidade e das resistências mecânicas avaliadas.

<p>  </p> <p>Concrete is the second most consumed material in the world after water and is an essential element of constructed infrastructure. Over 14 billion m3 of concrete are being produced annually, resulting in a serious impact on the environment. The production of cement, which is the main component of concrete, is responsible for 5 – 8 % of global CO2 emissions. As a result, several global initiatives have been undertaken to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This carbon neutrality target coincides with the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. A well-known, and successful strategy to reduce CO2 emissions in the concrete industry is to use supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as a partial replacement for cement. However, it is projected that in 2030 the demand for two of the most commonly used SCMs, fly ash and slag cement, will exceed their supply. Using nontraditional and natural pozzolans (NNPs) can help to close this supply gap, but there is a lack of knowledge regarding the reactivity and long-term performance of these materials.</p> <p>The purpose of this research was to perform experiments on several NNPs, some of which can be supplied in commercially viable quantities with the objective of evaluating their performance in cementitious systems (mortars and concretes) with the goal of accurately assessing their potential for use as alternative SCMs. The mortar study was performed using a total of 11 different NNPs, belonging to 4 distinctive groups and distributed as follows: 3 from the group of calcined clays (CCs) - CC1, CC2, and CC3, 3 from the group of natural pozzolans (NPs) - NP1, NP2 and NP3, 2 from the group of fluidized bed combustion (FBCs) ashes - FBC1 and FBC2, and 3 from the group of bottom ashes (GBAs) - GBA1, GBA2, and GBA3.</p> <p>The concrete study was performed on 4 different materials, one from each of the previously mentioned groups. The materials selected for concrete study were the worst-performing members of each group, as determined by the analysis of the test results obtained from mortars. These included CC2, NP3, FBC1, and GBA3 materials. This approach was adopted under the assumption that achieving adequate concrete characteristics with lowest-quality materials will all but assure satisfactory performance of concretes with higher-quality materials. </p> <p>The findings generated from this research indicate that several of the NNPs used in this study present a viable alternative to traditional SCMs. As an example, out of the 11 NNPS, 9 were found to conform to the requirements of the ASTM C618-19, the standard specification currently used to assess the suitability of coal fly ash and raw or calcined natural pozzolans for use in concrete. Results obtained from tests performed on mortars demonstrated that, when used at the replacement level of 25%, all 11 NNPs produced mixtures with characteristics similar to those obtained from the plain cement (OPC) mortar. For that reason, this level of replacement was selected to prepare concrete specimens. The results collected from concrete specimens showed that, when compared to plain concrete, mixtures with all 4 NNPs attained comparable (or improved) mechanical (compressive and flexural strength), durability (freeze-thaw resistance), and transport (formation factor and rate of water absorption) properties. As in the case of traditional SCMs, the mixtures with NNPs were found to require extended curing times to fully realize their property-enhancing potential associated with pozzolanic reactions. Overall, the best performing materials were those from the CCs group, followed by those belonging to, respectively, NPs, GBAs, and FBCs groups. </p>