X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were calculated and compared to literature data with the aim of investigating the crystal structure of nanocrystalline calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H), the main binding phase in hydrated Portland cement pastes. Published XRD patterns from C-S-H of Ca/Si ratios ranging from ~ 0.6 to ~ 1.7 are fully compatible with nanocrystalline and turbostratic tobermorite. E...

The paper aims at simulating the closed-system dynamic leaching of a cement-based monolith containing lead with the numerical reactive transport code HYTEC in a 3D-cylindrical geometry. The model considers, simultaneously, the chemical evolution of pore water, the progression of mineralogical alteration fronts, and the concomitant release of elements from the S/S waste. In good agreement with t...

To improve the understanding of the immobilization mechanism and the leaching risk of Arsenic (As) in the cement product from coprocessing wastes using cement kiln, distribution and species of As in cement product were determined by microscale investigation methods, including electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In this study, sodium arsenate crystals (Na3AsO41...

Synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) combined with scanning electron microscopy-based energy dispersive micro-analysis (EDS) has been used to determine the elemental distribution of contaminants (e.g., Ni) and of chemical elements inherent to the cement matrix (e.g., Si, Ca, Al, S) in hardened cement paste. Detailed information on the cement microstructure was gained by using backsc...

Ulm. " Nanoindentation analysis as a two-dimensional tool for mapping the mechanical properties of complex surfaces. " Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. The MIT Faculty has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matte...

Concrete, the solid that forms at room temperature from mixing Portland cement with water, sand, and aggregates, suffers from time-dependent deformation under load. This creep occurs at a rate that deteriorates the durability and truncates the lifespan of concrete structures. However, despite decades of research, the origin of concrete creep remains unknown. Here, we measure the in situ creep b...

Cement is an important component in repositories for low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Nd uptake by hardened cement paste (HCP) has been investigated with the aim of developing a mechanistic understanding of the immobilization processes of trivalent lanthanides and actinides in HCP on the molecular level. Information on the microstructure of HCP, the Nd distribution in the cem...

Long-term predictions on the mobility and the fate of radionuclides and contaminants in cementitious waste repositories require a molecular-level understanding of the geochemical immobilization processes involved. In this study, the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for chemical speciation of trace elements in cementitious materials will be outlined presenting two examples relevant for...