On the optimisation of cement microstructure for nuclear waste encapsulation - probing the effect of hydration on migration pathways

Author(s): Yanli Wen, Xiajie Liu, Dirk Engelberg
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: 1st International Conference on UHPC Materials and Structures
Editor(s): Caijun Shi and Dehui Wang
ISBN: 978-2-35158-164-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-165-O
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 500-507
Total Pages: 08
Language: English

Abstract: The hydration process of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) has been investigated using 2D Digital Image Correlation (DIC). OPC blended with SrCl2 solution was investigated, with a focus to understand the effect of hydration on microstructure development and associated leaching behaviour. The aim of the study was to establish a link between chemical shrinkage during hydration and OPC microstructure evolution using in-situ imaging techniques. The development of heterogeneous local surface displacements was observed, resulting in a granular displacement pattern at the sample surface. The observed displacement pattern are currently correlated with preferred migration pathways in cement microstructure, by using a combination of in-situ leaching tests with 2D optical and 3D X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) techniques. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) of cement microstructure after acid leaching has also been explored to optimize in-situ leaching experiments. A general overview of the experimental methodologies is provided in this paper.

Online publication: 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00