The complex interaction between cement and chemical/mineral admixtures in concrete mixtures sometimes leads to unpredictable concrete performance in the field which is generally defined as concrete incompatibilities. Cement paste rheology measurements instead of traditional workability tests (i.e., slump cone test) can have great potential in detecting those incompatibilities in concrete before the concrete is placed, which can, in turn, avoid related workability problems and setting time as well as heat evolution abnormalities. The objectives of the present study were to examine the applicability of the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) to measure cement paste rheology, and to identify cement and mineral/chemical admixture incompatibilities, based on the determined rheological parameters. The DSR was modified and optimized for cement paste rheology measurements. Two different modes of operations (i.e., static and dynamic methods) with the modified DSR were investigated to measure representative rheological parameters as well as to identify cement and chemical/mineral admixture incompatibility. The conventional plastic viscosity and yield stress are measured in static mode and storage modulus curve, as a function of time, is measured in dynamic mode. The rate of change of plastic viscosity (RPV) as another static rheological parameter and the modeled magnitude parameter ?, from the dynamic rheological method, showed great potentialities as acceptance criteria to identify incompatible mixtures. The heat of hydration data from isothermal conduction calorimeter tests and setting time results for the studied mixtures have strongly supported the rheology based observations as supporting tools. Based on the main tests results, the acceptance criteria were set up using the rheological parameters in accordance with heat of hydration data. This will ultimately help material suppliers, concrete producers, and other users to detect problematic combinations of concrete ingredients before a given concrete mixture is placed.

This work aimed to study the interaction of the drug pyrimethamine (PIR) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) with the biopolymer chitosan chemically modified with glutaraldehyde, after immobilization of copper (Quit-Cu). The release of these drugs in buffer pH 7.0 was also studied by heat-conduction calorimetry at 298 K. The matrices of chitosan modified with glutaraldehyde (QUIT-GLT) were used for immobilization of ions Cu (II), obtaining the material Quit-Cu. This material has 2.347 x 10-5 mol.g-1 of copper. It was obtained values of the interaction energies (Qint) and the amount of PIR and SDZ interacting with Quit-Cu matrix (Nint) at 298 K. Langmuir isotherm described the adsorption equilibrium behaviour in the entire concentration range studied. Negative values found for Gibbs free energy of the PIR and SDZ, ΔG = -16.7 ± 0.4 KJmol-1 and ΔG = - 15.7 ± 0.6 KJmol-1 respectively, confirm the feasibillity of procedures and their spontaneous nature. The release of the drugs from Quit-Cu was also estimated by calorimetry. The data obtained could be described by the model of Power Low. The n values obtained from the fits indicate an anomalous release of PIR and SDZ from Quit-Cu. PIR had a release rate higher than SDZ and a time of release lower than SDZ ( k = 11,31x10-2, 36 min to PIR and K=8,84x10-2, 60 min to SDZ). The results of PIR release were about 40 times greater than the inhibitory concentration dose of the PIR to toxoplasmosis DHFR (0.25 μM), suggesting that the material could be a good carrier to this drug. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da interação dos fármacos pirimetamina (PIR) e sulfadiazina (SDZ) com o biopolímero quitosana modificado quimicamente com gluteraldeído e tendo cobre imobilizado (Quit-Cu), bem como o estudo de liberação desses fármacos em tampão pH 7,0 através da calorimetria isotérmica. As matrizes de quitosana modificadas com gluteraldeído (Qui-GLT) foram utilizadas para imobilização de íons Cu(II), obtendo o material Quit-Cu contendo 2,347 x 10-5 mols.g-1 de cobre. Utilizando a calorimetria isotérmica obtiveram-se valores das energias de interação (Qint) e da quantidade de fármaco que interage (Nint) com a matriz Quit-Cu, a 298 K. Os dados obtidos ajustaram-se ao modelo de Langmuir. Valores negativos encontrados para a energia livre de Gibbs da PIR e da SDZ, ΔG = −16,7 ± 0,4 KJmol−1 e ΔG = − 15,7 ± 0,6 KJmol−1 respectivamente, confirmam a viabilidade dos processos e a natureza espontânea dos mesmos. O processo de liberação dos fármacos da matriz Quit-Cu também foi avaliado por calorimetria e os dados obtidos ajustados ao modelo da lei das potências. Os valores de n obtidos dos ajustes indicam que tanto a PIR como a SDZ tem mecanismo de liberação anômalo. A PIR teve uma taxa de liberação maior da matriz Quit-Cu com um tempo menor (k = 11,31x10-2 em 36min) em relação à SDZ (k=8,84x10-2 em 60min). Os resultados de liberação da PIR foram cerca de 40 vezes maior que a concentração da dose inibitória da PIR para DHFR da toxoplasmose (0,25μM), existindo, portanto possibilidades de ser um bom carreador deste fármaco.