Baral, A. orcid.org/0000-0003-0810-5475, Rodriguez, E.T., Hunnicutt, W.A. et al. (6 more authors) (2022) Ultra-high gamma irradiation of calcium silicate hydrates: impact on mechanical properties, nanostructure, and atomic environments. Cement and Concrete Research, 158. 106855. ISSN 0008-8846
Abstract
The concrete biological shield in a nuclear power plant receives ~100–200 MGy gamma dosage during an 80-year design life. However, precise changes in the mechanical properties and atomic environments of C-S-H at ultrahigh irradiation dosages have not been systematically documented. Here, we report that irradiation decreases C-S-H basal spacing (~ 0.6 ± 0.1 Å for 189 MGy) and increases its Young's modulus, which is attributed to the lower basal spacing as the nano porosity potentially increased and microporosity remained unchanged. Irradiation also decreased the molecular water content and increased hydroxyl groups in C-S-H, showing that interlayer water removal reduces the basal spacing. Finally, 1H and 29Si NMR results indicate some disorder in the local proton CaO-H species and slight depolymerization of the silicate structure. Together, these results indicate that the C-S-H gel stiffens upon ultrahigh gamma irradiation dosage, a finding which concerns long-term nuclear power plants operations worldwide.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. |
Keywords: | Photocatalytic cement; Spectroscopy; Carbonation; Sulfoaluminate; NOx photodegradation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Engineering (Sheffield) > Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 18 Dec 2023 12:14 |
Last Modified: | 18 Dec 2023 12:18 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier BV |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cemconres.2022.106855 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:206690 |