The Influence of Slightly and Highly Soluble Carbonate Salts on Phase Relations in Hydrated Calcium Aluminate Cements
Abstract
The addition of slightly (CaCO3) and highly soluble (Na2CO3) carbonate salts is expected to favor the formation of carboaluminate phases in hydrated calcium aluminate cements (CACs). A multi-method approach including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermodynamic calculations is applied to highlight that the "conversion phenomena" in CACs cannot be mitigated by the formation of carboaluminate phases (monocarboaluminate: Mc and hemicarboaluminate: Hc) which are anticipated to form following the addition of carbonate salts. Here, carboaluminate phase formation is shown to depend on three factors: (1) water availability, (2) carbonate content of the salts, and their ability to mobilize CO32- species in solution, and (3) lime content associated with the carbonate salt. The latter two factors are linked to the composition and solubility of the carbonate agent. It is concluded that limestone (CaCO3), despite being a source of calcium and carbonate species, contributes only slightly to carboaluminate phase formation due to its low solubility and slow dissolution rate. Soluble carbonate salts (Na2CO3) fail to boost carboaluminate phase formation as the availability of Ca2+ ions and water are limiting. Detailed thermodynamic calculations are used to elucidate conditions that affect the formation of carboaluminate phases.
Recommended Citation
G. Puerta-Falla et al., "The Influence of Slightly and Highly Soluble Carbonate Salts on Phase Relations in Hydrated Calcium Aluminate Cements," Journal of Materials Science, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 6062 - 6074, Springer New York LLC, Jun 2016.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-9912-9
Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Calcite; Calcium carbonate; Cements; Hydration; Lime; Salts; Sodium Aluminate; Sodium Carbonate; Sodium compounds; Solubility; Thermogravimetric analysis; X ray diffraction, Calcium aluminate cement; Carbonate content; Carbonate species; Dissolution rates; Multi-method approach; Phase formations; Thermodynamic calculations; Water availability, Carbonation
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0022-2461; 1573-4803
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2016 Springer New York LLC, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jun 2016
Comments
The authors acknowledge the financial support for this research provisioned by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and National Science Foundation (CMMI: 1066583).