Keywords: frost resistance

Highly dispersed modifier of cement composites based on natural wollastonite

https://doi.org/10.58224/2619-0575-2025-8-4-7
Abstract
Objectives: development of a highly dispersed modifier based on natural vollastonite, which ensures the production of construction products with improved physical and mechanical properties.
Methods. The evaluation of the raw materials and the effect of their highly dispersed suspension obtained by ultrasonic dispersion on the structure and properties of cement stone and fine-grained concrete was performed using methods specified in GOST R 56593-2015 and GOST 10060-2012, as well as scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction, nitrogen porometry, and X-ray phase analysis.
Results. The pozzolanic activity of the highly dispersed vollastonite additive was determined to be 87.3 mg/g, and it was confirmed by a 18.2% decrease in the intensity of Portlandite X-ray reflexes in the modified cement stone samples. The corrected frost resistance of the modified fine-grained concrete is noted, which is due to the integral homogeneous microstructure and the reduction in the total porosity of the cement stone from 0.0043 to 0.0019 cm3/g, i.e., by 2.4 times, compared to the control samples, with an increased concentration of crystalline phases of wateerite μ-CaCO3 and wairakite Ca(AlSi2O6)2∙2H2O. It was found that cement stone with a highly dispersed modifier has a relative increase of 32.4% and 5.4% in the concentration of crystalline phases of alite 3CaO∙SiO2 and belite β-2CaO∙SiO2, respectively.
Conclusions. The possibility of using mineral powder of substandard natural wollastonite with a specific surface area of 45786 cm2/cm3 and a particle size of 2.17 μm as a modifier of the structure and properties of fine-grained concrete has been proven and scientifically substantiated. A highly dispersed suspension of wollastonite with an average particle size of 0.405 μm, obtained by ultrasonic dispersion of the initial raw material in an aqueous medium of a polycarboxylate ester-based stabilizer for 5 minutes, with a content of 10% of the cement mass in fine-grained concrete, allows for the production of products with a bending strength of 6.8 MPa, a compressive strength of 58.5 MPa, and a frost resistance rating of F500.
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ELASTOMERS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS

Abstract
Research works were carried out in the field of creating new rubbers with improved low-temperature, fire-fighting properties, with high resistance to the effects of petroleum products. Experimental rubber samples based on hydrogenated butadiene-nitrile rubbers and samples based on mixtures of propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin rubbers were developed. Physical and mechanical tests were conducted to determine the elastic-strength properties of rubbers, tests to determine the glass transition temperature by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The obtained data showed that, depending on the type of rubber and other prescription factors, the developed elastomeric materials have a glass transition temperature from minus 45℃ to minus 87℃. Tests were carried out to determine the oil resistance and degree of swelling of rubbers after exposure in technological oil of the brand SGR-3 for samples 1-4, and to determine the fuel resistance and degree of swelling of rubbers after exposure in aviation kerosene of the brand TS-1 for samples 5-8. Analysis of the obtained data showed that the best characteristics for frost resistance are rubber samples based on mixtures of propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin rubbers. Elastomers in terms of elastic-strength characteristics and hardness indicators meet the requirements for sealing products of machinery and equipment of the oil and gas industry. Also, elastomers showed good results in tests for fuel resistance, while the degree of swelling of rubber samples in aviation kerosene is about 9%. Developments are protected as a trade secret (know-how). There is a positive experience in manufac-turing and selling lots of products made from developed elastomeric materials for domestic consumers.
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