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Title: New observations on the mechanism of lithium nitrate against alkali silica reaction (ASR)

Abstract

In the current study, in order to elucidate the mechanisms for the favorable effects of lithium nitrate in controlling alkali silica reaction (ASR), vycor glass disk immersion specimens and glass disk-cement paste sandwich specimens were prepared and examined by XRD, SEM and Laser Ablation Induction Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results showed that when glass disk was immersed in only NaOH solution, the glass was attacked by hydroxyl ions but no solid reaction product was found, thus the presence of calcium was essential for the formation of ASR gel. In the presence of lithium, the glass surface was covered by a thick layer of Li-Si crystal. With the addition of Ca(OH){sub 2}, the glass surface was completely covered by Li-Si crystal and a lithium-bearing low Ca-Na-(K)-Si gel. These two phases either form a dense matrix with Li-Si crystal serving as the framework, and the gel filling in the void space, or the Li-Si crystal serving as the foundation to completely cover the entire reactive SiO{sub 2} surface, and the gel sitting on top of these crystal particles. Hence, the suppressive effects of LiNO{sub 3} were attributed to the formation of a layer of Li-Si crystals intimately at the reactive SiO{submore » 2} particle surface and the formation of Li-bearing low-Ca ASR gel products. The Li-bearing low-Ca ASR gels may have a dense and rigid structure, thus having low capacity to absorb moisture from the surrounding paste, and exhibiting a non-swelling property.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB (Canada)
  2. Concrete Durability Center, The University of Texas at Austin, TX (United States)
  3. Concrete Technology Program, CANMET-MTL, Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21344739
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Cement and Concrete Research
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 40; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.017; PII: S0008-8846(09)00173-2; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Journal ID: ISSN 0008-8846
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ABLATION; CALCIUM HYDROXIDES; CEMENTS; CRYSTALS; GELS; GLASS; ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY; LITHIUM; LITHIUM NITRATES; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SILICA; SILICON OXIDES; SODIUM HYDROXIDES; SWELLING; VOIDS; VYCOR; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS; ALKALI METALS; ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS; BUILDING MATERIALS; CALCIUM COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; COHERENT SCATTERING; COLLOIDS; DEFORMATION; DIFFRACTION; DISPERSIONS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ELEMENTS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; HYDROXIDES; LITHIUM COMPOUNDS; MASS SPECTROSCOPY; MATERIALS; METALS; MICROSCOPY; MINERALS; NITRATES; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; OXIDE MINERALS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; SCATTERING; SILICON COMPOUNDS; SODIUM COMPOUNDS; SPECTROSCOPY

Citation Formats

Feng, X, Thomas, M D.A., Bremner, T W, Folliard, K J, and Fournier, B. New observations on the mechanism of lithium nitrate against alkali silica reaction (ASR). United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.017.
Feng, X, Thomas, M D.A., Bremner, T W, Folliard, K J, & Fournier, B. New observations on the mechanism of lithium nitrate against alkali silica reaction (ASR). United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.017
Feng, X, Thomas, M D.A., Bremner, T W, Folliard, K J, and Fournier, B. 2010. "New observations on the mechanism of lithium nitrate against alkali silica reaction (ASR)". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.017.
@article{osti_21344739,
title = {New observations on the mechanism of lithium nitrate against alkali silica reaction (ASR)},
author = {Feng, X and Thomas, M D.A. and Bremner, T W and Folliard, K J and Fournier, B},
abstractNote = {In the current study, in order to elucidate the mechanisms for the favorable effects of lithium nitrate in controlling alkali silica reaction (ASR), vycor glass disk immersion specimens and glass disk-cement paste sandwich specimens were prepared and examined by XRD, SEM and Laser Ablation Induction Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results showed that when glass disk was immersed in only NaOH solution, the glass was attacked by hydroxyl ions but no solid reaction product was found, thus the presence of calcium was essential for the formation of ASR gel. In the presence of lithium, the glass surface was covered by a thick layer of Li-Si crystal. With the addition of Ca(OH){sub 2}, the glass surface was completely covered by Li-Si crystal and a lithium-bearing low Ca-Na-(K)-Si gel. These two phases either form a dense matrix with Li-Si crystal serving as the framework, and the gel filling in the void space, or the Li-Si crystal serving as the foundation to completely cover the entire reactive SiO{sub 2} surface, and the gel sitting on top of these crystal particles. Hence, the suppressive effects of LiNO{sub 3} were attributed to the formation of a layer of Li-Si crystals intimately at the reactive SiO{sub 2} particle surface and the formation of Li-bearing low-Ca ASR gel products. The Li-bearing low-Ca ASR gels may have a dense and rigid structure, thus having low capacity to absorb moisture from the surrounding paste, and exhibiting a non-swelling property.},
doi = {10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.017},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21344739}, journal = {Cement and Concrete Research},
issn = {0008-8846},
number = 1,
volume = 40,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}