| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M37714/01 |
| Title: |
COMPOSITION, FORMATION AND STABILITY OF THAUMASITE IN CONCRETES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Macphee, Professor D |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Aberdeen |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 1999 |
Ends: |
31 December 2001 |
Value (£): |
145,972
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Although concrete is today the most widely used material in construction, it is also subject to degradation by environmental factors. Most degradation processes are sufficiently well understood to be satisfactorily minimised by design of mix formulation and placement criteria. However, a relatively recent form of sulphate attack has been observed in concretes specifically formulated to resist sulphates. The main degradation product is thaumasite, CaSi03. CaCo3. 15H20. This forms at the expense of C-S-H, the principal binding phase in Portland cement pastes, resulting, in extreme cases, in the disintegration of solidified concrete into a fluid mush. Several such cases have recently been observed in foundation concrete's in the UK and elsewhere and this occurrence is readily confirmed by preliminary laboratory studies which show that thaumasite formation is optimised in cold conditions where there is an adequate supply of moisture containing sulphate and carbonate ions.This project is concerned with the compositional and thermodynamic characterisation of thaumasite and is primarily directed at establishing the nature of its formation from solution. Thaumasite is a complex mineral so the study will involve the acquisition and modelling of composition and solubility data obtained under various environmental conditions so that conditions to inhibit crystallisation can be identified.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.abdn.ac.uk |