Inorganic surface treatments for concrete protection

Carbonated cement paste surfaces were characterised prior to application of surface treatments. Their chemical and physical properties varied with distance from the surface and method of carbonation. From the surface inwards the pH of expressed pore solutions and porosity were observed to increase. Hardness increased after natural carbonation, but decreased after accelerated carbonation. Generally, accelerated carbonation caused more extreme changes. Investigations were carried out on four concrete surface hardening treatments; two sodium silicates and two silicofluorides. These treatments penetrated and hardened the surface of naturally dried uncarbonated cement paste to a depth fo 250m. Silicofluorides reacted with uncarbonated and carbonated cement pastes to form calcium fluoride. The question of how sodium silicates harden the surface remains unanswered. Surface hardeners do not significantly affect the rate of carbonation, and are unsuitable for re-alkalising carbonated cement paste. Water repellent treatments studied include a silane, a siloxane and a silicone. The silane exhibited the maximum penetration, up to 24mm under favourable conditions, but penetration in all cases was limited by moisture in the substrate. Water repellent treatments slow down water vapour diffusion but, with time, internal moisture levels should reflect external relative humidities. Water repellents may be used to reduce carbonation-induced corrosion where ingress of moisture from intermittent wetting may be slowed. However, treatment with water repellents can temporarily push the carbonation front deeper into the concrete.

Influência de situações não conformes devidas à colocação do betãode base em lajes com aplicação de endurecedores de superfície

Segundo estudos anteriores, por vezes verificam-se problemas de delaminação e fissuração em pavimentos com a aplicação de endurecedores de superfície, principalmente em condições de vento e/ou calor. Estes fenómenos muitas vezes provêm de outros fatores que não só as condições climatéricas, ou seja, os problemas podem começar no betão de base, associados algumas vezes a situações menos corretas na sua elaboração e aplicação. Por este motivo, nesta dissertação ir-se-á analisar qual a influência do betão de base quando se produz um conjunto de não­conformidades em obra, nomeadamente ao nível da colocação do betão de base. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível verificar que nem todas as situações de não­conformidade obtiveram maus resultados na ligação endurecedor/betão. /ABSTRATC: According to previous studies, problems with delamination and cracking in pavements with surface hardener have been found, especially in windy conditions and/or heat. But these phenomenons often come from other factors, problems can start at the concrete base, sometimes associated to situations where there is an incorrect design and implementation and for this reason this thesis will analyze the influence of the concrete base when it produces a set of non-conformities in work, particularly in terms of placement of the concrete base. Based on what has been reported by several companies a set of tests has established. From the obtained results it was verified that not all situations of non-compliance showed poor results in the connection of the surface hardener I concrete.

Effect of surface conditions on flow of a micropolar fluid driven by a porous stretching sheet

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Some surface profiles of a strip after plane-strain indentation by rigid bodies with serrated surfaces

This paper is concerned with the surface profiles of a strip after rigid bodies with serrated (saw-teeth) surfaces indent the strip and are subsequently removed. Plane-strain conditions are assumed. This has application in roughness transfer of final metal forming process. The effects of the semi-angle of the teeth, the depth of indentation and the friction on the contact surface on the profile are considered.