Inclusion removal is critical for the production of clean steel. A better understanding of removal processes require knowledge of the effect of process parameters on dissolution kinetics. The present research focuses on the kinetics of calcium aluminate inclusion dissolution in relevant steelmaking slags that contain CaO, Al2O3 and SiO2. In-situ observation of inclusion dissolution in slag is conducted using a high temperature, confocal scanning laser microscope (HT-CSLM). The particles used in this experimental work are produced in the laboratory and the production technique is explained in detail. The change in particle size is recorded with time and the effects of temperature, slag composition and inclusion morphology are investigated. The images are extracted from video and they are analysed to record the change in equivalent radius of a single particle during the dissolution process. The original and normalized dissolution data is used to determine the dissolution mechanism and to improve existing dissolution models. It has been found that an increase in temperature increases the dissolution rate. At 1550°C and 1600°C, there is no product layer formation at the slag-inclusion interface and so, the dissolution process is faster. Slag composition shows a significant influence on the dissolution kinetics due to differences in the dissolution driving force and viscosity. Additionally, the dissolution rate depends on the morphology of inclusion as available reaction sites vary significantly. Rate limiting steps are discussed based on the shrinking core model and diffusion in stagnant fluid model. It is shown that the rate limiting step for dissolution is the diffusion v through a product layer at 1500°C whereas it is mass transfer in slag at 1550°C and 1600°C. The diffusion coefficient of alumina is obtained by applying a one-dimension diffusion model. The calculated results varied between 5.5×10-11 and 2.6×10-10 m2/s depending on experimental conditions. Slag viscosity was found to be an important parameter for the modelling of the dissolution process. A modification to the correlation between the correction coefficient and slag viscosity was proposed. This modification improved the prediction of the dissolution path for calcium aluminate and alumina inclusions in steelmaking slags. This novel study provides an understanding of dissolution mechanisms and it offers data on the dissolution rate of CA2 inclusions in the slags related to the process of steelmaking. The results from this work can be used by steelmakers to aid in process design. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / The present work is a pioneer study on the dissolution of calcium aluminate particles in liquid oxide mixtures using the unique real-time observation approach. Experiments were conducted to provide a better understanding of the effects of various steelmaking conditions on inclusion removal during the refinement of liquid steel. An existing dissolution model is further refined by introducing an additional parameter that is correlated to the properties of oxide mixtures. It has been found that the dissolution model can be applied not only to calcium aluminate inclusions but also to alumina inclusions. Hence, the approach proves the potential university nature of the dissolution model. A clear understanding of the dissolution kinetics of inclusions helps to optimize the current steelmaking routes and enhance the removability of inclusions. Steel with a minimum amount of inclusions has better properties from all aspects, which improves its applicability in all fields.

No / Hydration of five Roman and American natural cements was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy of cement pastes. Two cements were prepared in the laboratory by burning marls from geological sources in Poland (Folwark) and Austria (Lilienfeld). The selection of raw materials and burning conditions were optimized so that the hydraulic nature and appearance of the final burnt materials matched as closely as possible historic Roman cements widely used in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries in Europe to decorate buildings. Three other cements are produced commercially: quick setting Prompt cement from Vicat, France, and Rosendale cements from Edison Coatings Inc., USA. The hydration of the cements studied was shown to comprise two distinct stages. The immediate setting and early strength is due to the formation of calcium aluminum oxide carbonate (or sulfate) hydroxide hydrates. The development of long-term strength is brought about by the formation of calcium silicate hydrates. Similarities and differences between the individual cements are discussed.

Cerâmicas porosas encontram um vasto campo de aplicações tecnológicas, tais como isolantes térmicos em equipamentos siderúrgicos, filtros de fluidos em altas temperaturas e biomateriais. A obtenção dessas estruturas por meio de moldagem direta de suspensões aquosas é uma interessante técnica de conformação, pois, peças com geometrias complexas e de grandes volumes podem ser produzidas. Neste caso, a consolidação ocorre, geralmente, pela ação de um ligante hidráulico, cuja função é garantir níveis mínimos de resistência mecânica à verde. Em sistemas refratários, os ligantes mais utilizados são o cimento de aluminato de cálcio (CAC) e alumina hidratável (AH), devido à alta refratariedade e custos competitivos destes materiais. Nas estruturas porosas à base de alumina, particularmente, eles podem proporcionar valores distintos de porosidade e diferentes tipos de microestruturas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo entender como o CAC e a AH interagem com a alumina. Foram avaliados a evolução microestrutural e os efeitos do teor (10 até 40% em volume de ligante hidráulico) e do tamanho das partículas da matriz (alumina fina e grossa) nas amostras à verde e durante o aquecimento inicial até 1500°C. De modo geral, maiores volumes de ligantes permitiram a obtenção de estruturas à verde mais rígidas e resistentes, porém menos porosas. Além da porosidade total (PT), as microestruturas decorrentes das transformações de fases cristalinas ou amorfas também influenciaram os resultados mecânicos. No caso do CAC, as fases formadas durante as reações in situ ajudaram a melhorar as propriedades mecânicas das amostras, mesmo que acompanhado por um acréscimo em porosidade. Em proporções estequiométricas, os cristais de hexaluminato de cálcio (CA6) formados após tratamento a 1500°C inibiram a densificação, ajudando na manutenção da PT (36,7-46,5%), ainda com boa resistência (acima de 20 MPa em compressão diametral). Nos sistemas ligados com AH, observou-se grandes perdas em propriedades mecânicas antes da sinterização, as quais foram relacionadas ao aumento de densidade real dos precipitados do ligante e à perda de conexão entre as partículas da matriz. Em altas temperaturas, os precipitados de AH auxiliaram a sinterização e garantiram a obtenção de peças porosas quando se utilizou alumina grossa (PT: 44,3-47,7%). / Porous ceramics have a wide range of technological applications, such as thermal insulation in steelmaking furnaces, filter for high temperature fluids and as biomaterials. Obtaining these structures through the direct casting of aqueous suspensions is an interesting conformation method since pieces with complex geometries and large volumes can be produced. In this case, the consolidation usually occurs by the action of a hydraulic binder, which provides the minimum levels of mechanical strength in green samples. In refractory systems, the most used binders are calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and hydratable alumina (HA), due to the high refractoriness and competitive costs of these materials. Particularly, in porous alumina-based structures, they can provide distinct values of porosity and different types of microstructures. The purpose of the present work is to understand how CAC and HA interact with alumina. The effects of the binder content (from 10 up to 40% in volume) and the particle size of the matrix (fine and coarse) during initial heating up to 1500°C were studied. In general, larger volumes of binders provided green samples with less porosity but higher mechanical strength. Besides total porosity (TP), the microstructures generated from the transformations of crystalline or amorphous phases also influenced the mechanical results. In the case of CAC, the phases formed by in situ reactions improved the mechanical properties of the samples, despite the increase in porosity. In stoichiometric proportions, the crystals of calcium hexaluminate (CA6) formed after treatment at 1500°C inhibited the densification, favoring to maintain total porosity (36.7-46.5%), even with acceptable mechanical properties (above 20 MPa under diametric compression). In HA-bonded systems, before the sintering begins, a decrease in mechanical properties was noted and related to the increase in density of the precipitates and loss of connection between the matrix particles. At high temperature, the precipitates from HA aided the sintering and guaranteed porous samples in coarse alumina composition (TP: 44.3- 47.7%).

Compared to the knowledge base for ordinary portland cement concrete (OPCC), relatively little information exists for calcium aluminate cement concrete (CACC), despite its existence for over 100 years. There is particularly a lack of knowledge related to early-age behavior of CACC, specifically volume change and cracking potential. To assess these early-age properties, two unique pieces of equipment were developed and employed: a rigid cracking frame and free deformation frame which enabled quantification of restrained stress generation and unrestrained autogenous deformation, respectively. These two pieces of equipment employed active temperature control and allowed a wide range of isothermal and realistic temperature conditions to be imposed upon hydrating cementitious samples. Match-cured samples (i.e. identical temperature curing to that in the frames) enabled the quantification of mechanical property development. Samples cured at discrete isothermal temperatures up to 30 °C developed tensile forces in the rigid cracking frame and exhibited shrinkage phenomena in the free deformation frame. At temperatures above 30 °C, the converse was true and significant compressive forces developed in restrained testing and expansion was observed in unrestrained testing. It was found that this was a direct result of microstructural development related to the formation of metastable phases (associated with shrinkage) and stable phases (expansion as a result of conversion from metastable to stable phases). Proper use of this material must take into account behavior associated with both types of hydrate assemblages, metastable and stable. Realistic time-temperature histories were also investigated based on field-scale concrete cast as part of this research project. It was found that volume change at earlyage was dominantly controlled by thermal history. Furthermore, it was not simply the maximum temperature reached, but the rate of temperature rise during hydration and the resulting duration of time spent at high temperature that profoundly influenced volume change and property development. The research described in this dissertation represents a significant advancement of the state-of-knowledge of this unique material and has further elucidated the role of temperature during hydration of CACC. / text

Cerâmicas porosas encontram um vasto campo de aplicações tecnológicas, tais como isolantes térmicos em equipamentos siderúrgicos, filtros de fluidos em altas temperaturas e biomateriais. A obtenção dessas estruturas por meio de moldagem direta de suspensões aquosas é uma interessante técnica de conformação, pois, peças com geometrias complexas e de grandes volumes podem ser produzidas. Neste caso, a consolidação ocorre, geralmente, pela ação de um ligante hidráulico, cuja função é garantir níveis mínimos de resistência mecânica à verde. Em sistemas refratários, os ligantes mais utilizados são o cimento de aluminato de cálcio (CAC) e alumina hidratável (AH), devido à alta refratariedade e custos competitivos destes materiais. Nas estruturas porosas à base de alumina, particularmente, eles podem proporcionar valores distintos de porosidade e diferentes tipos de microestruturas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo entender como o CAC e a AH interagem com a alumina. Foram avaliados a evolução microestrutural e os efeitos do teor (10 até 40% em volume de ligante hidráulico) e do tamanho das partículas da matriz (alumina fina e grossa) nas amostras à verde e durante o aquecimento inicial até 1500°C. De modo geral, maiores volumes de ligantes permitiram a obtenção de estruturas à verde mais rígidas e resistentes, porém menos porosas. Além da porosidade total (PT), as microestruturas decorrentes das transformações de fases cristalinas ou amorfas também influenciaram os resultados mecânicos. No caso do CAC, as fases formadas durante as reações in situ ajudaram a melhorar as propriedades mecânicas das amostras, mesmo que acompanhado por um acréscimo em porosidade. Em proporções estequiométricas, os cristais de hexaluminato de cálcio (CA6) formados após tratamento a 1500°C inibiram a densificação, ajudando na manutenção da PT (36,7-46,5%), ainda com boa resistência (acima de 20 MPa em compressão diametral). Nos sistemas ligados com AH, observou-se grandes perdas em propriedades mecânicas antes da sinterização, as quais foram relacionadas ao aumento de densidade real dos precipitados do ligante e à perda de conexão entre as partículas da matriz. Em altas temperaturas, os precipitados de AH auxiliaram a sinterização e garantiram a obtenção de peças porosas quando se utilizou alumina grossa (PT: 44,3-47,7%). / Porous ceramics have a wide range of technological applications, such as thermal insulation in steelmaking furnaces, filter for high temperature fluids and as biomaterials. Obtaining these structures through the direct casting of aqueous suspensions is an interesting conformation method since pieces with complex geometries and large volumes can be produced. In this case, the consolidation usually occurs by the action of a hydraulic binder, which provides the minimum levels of mechanical strength in green samples. In refractory systems, the most used binders are calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and hydratable alumina (HA), due to the high refractoriness and competitive costs of these materials. Particularly, in porous alumina-based structures, they can provide distinct values of porosity and different types of microstructures. The purpose of the present work is to understand how CAC and HA interact with alumina. The effects of the binder content (from 10 up to 40% in volume) and the particle size of the matrix (fine and coarse) during initial heating up to 1500°C were studied. In general, larger volumes of binders provided green samples with less porosity but higher mechanical strength. Besides total porosity (TP), the microstructures generated from the transformations of crystalline or amorphous phases also influenced the mechanical results. In the case of CAC, the phases formed by in situ reactions improved the mechanical properties of the samples, despite the increase in porosity. In stoichiometric proportions, the crystals of calcium hexaluminate (CA6) formed after treatment at 1500°C inhibited the densification, favoring to maintain total porosity (36.7-46.5%), even with acceptable mechanical properties (above 20 MPa under diametric compression). In HA-bonded systems, before the sintering begins, a decrease in mechanical properties was noted and related to the increase in density of the precipitates and loss of connection between the matrix particles. At high temperature, the precipitates from HA aided the sintering and guaranteed porous samples in coarse alumina composition (TP: 44.3- 47.7%).

No description available.

L’encrassement des façades d’immeuble est causé par un phénomène d’altération biologique essentiellement esthétique. Leur vieillissement naturel favorise la colonisation de micro-organismes. La cinétique de biodétérioration dépend de plusieurs paramètres, tels que la situation géographique, les conditions environnementales et les caractéristiques physico-chimiques du matériau. L’objectif de la présente étude est d’établir un lien entre la composition chimique de mortiers à base de ciments et leur cinétique de colonisation par des microorganismes. Deux bancs d’essais sont utilisés : un banc d’essai in situ et un banc d’essai de biodétérioration accélérée de laboratoire. Deux ciments Portland (OPC) et deux ciments alumineux (CAC) de minéralogies différentes ont été sélectionnés. L’effet de la porosité, de la rugosité et de la carbonatation a également été étudié. Le microorganisme sélectionné pour les essais de laboratoire est l’algue Klebsormidium flaccidum qui se développe de manière prépondérante sur les façades en France. Les résultats obtenus en laboratoire et in situ montrent que la biocolonisation des mortiers à base de CAC est plus lente que celle des mortiers à base d’OPC. Lorsque la porosité augmente, la vitesse de biocolonisation augmente et l’effet de la composition chimique est en grande partie masqué. La biocolonisation des mortiers carbonatés se réalise plus rapidement que celle des mortiers non carbonatés surtout dans le cas des mortiers à base d’OPC. Enfin, les mortiers de surface rugueuse sont colonisés plus rapidement quelle que soit la formulation testée. Cet effet est plus marqué pour les mortiers exposés in situ que pour ceux testés en laboratoire. / The fouling of building-facade is caused by a main aesthetic phenomenon of biological weathering. The natural weathering favors the micro-organisms development. The biofouling kinetics depends on several parameters such as geographical situation, environmental conditions and physicochemical parameters of substrates. The main objective of this study is to highlight the influence of the mortar chemistry in relationship with its physical properties on the algal growth. The biofouling kinetics was followed on samples exposed outdoor and on samples tested in a laboratory bench which consists in spraying an algal culture on mortar specimens. In order to characterize the influence of the mortar chemistry on biofouling, two Portland cements (OPC) and two calcium aluminate cements (CAC) were tested. The influence of roughness, porosity and carbonation was also studied. The green algae Klebsormidium flaccidum were chosen for the accelerated laboratory tests because of its representativeness. The results obtain in laboratory and in situ show that CAC based mortars slow down the colonization kinetics compared to OPC based mortars. When porosity increases the biofouling kinetics increases and the effect of the mortars chemical composition is largely hidden. The carbonated mortars biofouling is achieved more quickly than uncarbonated ones especially for OPC based mortars. Finally, the rough surfaces are colonized faster whatever formulation tested. This parameter is mostly highlighted for in situ tests.

Polymerem impregnované cementové materiály představují zajímavou a perspektivní alternativu klasických portlandských cementových past. Hlavním zástupcem těchto materiálů jsou macrodefect-free (MDF) kompozity, složené z anorganického pojiva a organického polymeru. I přes řadu vynikajících mechanických vlastností je plné zavedení MDF kompozitů na trh omezené především z důvodu jejich relativně nízké odolnosti vůči vlhkosti. Jednou z možností jak zvýšit odolnost výsledného MDF vůči vlhkosti je „in situ“ síťování polymeru. V této práci byla připravena počáteční série MDF kompozitů na bázi hlinitanového cementu a polyvinylalkoholu se třemi typy organo-titanátových síťovacích činidel (Tyzory). Efekt modifikace MDF kompozitů byl hodnocen na základě zkoušek pevnosti v tahu za ohybu po uložení materiálů v různých vlhkostních podmínkách.

When firing calcium ceramic materials creates a new crystalline phase anorthite. It can significantly improve the properties of ceramic body. This work deals with the possibilities of development anortitové ceramics using non-plastic raw materials, particularly alumina cement compared with conventional ceramics based on mullite.

Abstract About 4 Mt of ladle slag is generated in steelmaking processes in Europe per year, a large proportion of which (80%) is placed in landfills or stored. This pattern is expected to continue without further research for their valorisation due to increasing demand for quality steel products worldwide. Ladle slag (LS) produced in Finland possesses large amounts of calcium and aluminium and mineralogical phases which can exhibit cementitious capabilities and can be utilized in applications where expensive commercial cements are currently being used. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the properties of ladle slag in different activation pathways, including alkali activation and use as a hydraulic binder with gypsum. The results showed that ladle slag can be used alone as a precursor in alkali activation or as the sole binder or a co-binder with gypsum in hydraulic binding. Depending on the activation pathway, compressive strength between 35–92 MPa can be achieved after 28 days. The reaction properties of alkali activated ladle slag are characterized, and it is confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) that the reaction product after alkali activation is mainly an x-ray amorphous (calcium aluminate silicate hydrate-like) phase. Characterization techniques (SEM, XRD, TGA and NMR) used to analyze the LS paste binder with just water showed the hydration products of ladle slag to be dicalcium aluminate octahydrate (C₂AH₈), tricalcium aluminate hexahydrate (C₃AH₆), gibbsite (AH₃) and stratlingite (C₂ASH₈) was also identified after a prolonged period of hydration. Furthermore, it was found that to minimize the conversion, the ideal water-to-binder ratio is 0.35. The conversion mechanism is reduced at this ratio and the strength is slightly affected. Another pathway that can be used to annul the conversion of calcium aluminate hydrates formed in LS paste is through the addition of gypsum to the LS paste system to produce an ettringite-rich binder (C₆A\(\bar{S}\)₃H₃₂). When ettringite is formed in place of calcium aluminate hydrates the strength increases, frost resistance is improved, and drying shrinkage is enhanced. Lastly, a potential application of ladle slag as a refractory material was also investigated. / Tiivistelmä Euroopassa syntyy vuosittain noin 4 Mt terästeollisuden sivutuotetta, JV-kuonaa, josta 80 % läjitetään tai kaatopaikoitetaan. Maailmanlaajuisesti syntyvän kuonan määrä tulee todennäköisesti kasvamaan laadukkaiden terästuotteiden ennustetun kysynnän kanssa. Tämän vuoksi kuonalle tulisi löytää hyötökäyttökohde, jota vältyttäisiin läjitykseltä. JV-kuona sisältääkin suuria määriä kalsiumia ja alumiinia sekä mineralogisia faaseja, joilla on sementtimäisiä ominaisuuksia. Näin kuonaa voitaisiin käyttää sovelluksissa, joissa tällä hetkellä käytetään kalliita kaupallisia sementtejä. Tämän väitöskirjan tarkoituksena oli tutkia JV-kuonan ominaisuuksia sementtimäisenä sideaineena alkali-aktivoinnissa sekä hydraulisena sideaineena yksinään että kipsin kanssa sekoitettuna. Väitöskirjan tulokset osoittivat, että JV-kuonaa voidaan käyttää prekursorina alkali-aktivoinnissa tai hydraulisena sideaineena pelkästään veden kanssa tai yhdessä kipsin ja veden kanssa. Saavutetut puristuslujuuset vaihtelivat 35 ja 92 MPa:n välillä, jotka vastaavat normaalin ja erityislujan betonin lujuuksia. JV-kuonan reaktiotuotteet alkali-aktivonnin jälkeen analysoitiin XRD- ja FTIR-analyyseillä. Tuloksista nähtiin, että alkali-aktivoinnin jälkeen reaktiotuote on sementin kaltainen kalsium-aluminatti-silikaati-hydraati (C-A-S-H) -tyyppinen faasi. XRD-, SEM-, TGA- ja NMR-analyysit osoittivat JV-kuonan hydrataatiotuotteiden olevan erilaisia kalsium-aluminaattihydraatteja (C₂AH₈, C₃AH₆, AH₃ ja C₂ASH₈). Tämän vuoksi työssä tutkittiin eri vesi–kuona-suhteita, ja havaittiin, että kun käytetään alhaista kuona-vesi –suhdetta (0,35), reaktiotuoteiden muutos vähenee ja lujuus paranee. Toinen tapa, jolla voidaan estää reaktiotuotteiden muuttuminen, on kipsin lisäys: lisäämällä kipsiä tuotetaan runsaasti ettringiittiä (C₆A\(\bar{S}\)₃H₃₂). Kun ettringiittiä muodostuu kalsium-aluminaattihydraattien sijaan, lujuus kasvaa, pakkaskestävyys paranee ja kuivumiskutistuma paranee. Väitöskirjan viimeisessä osiossa tutkittiin JV-kuonan mahdollista käyttöä tulenkestävänä materiaalina ja huomattiin, että sen tulenkestävyysominaisuudet vaihtelevat käytetyn aktivointityypin mukaan.