Progress in Nanoscale Studies of Hydrogen Reactions in Construction Materials

Abstract

Nuclear resonance reaction analysis (NRRA) has been applied to measure the nanoscale distribution of hydrogen with depth in the hydration of cementitious phases. This has provided a better understanding of the mechanisms and kinetics of cement hydration during the induction period that is critical to improved concrete technology. NRRA was also applied to measure the hydrogen depth profiles in other materials used in concrete construction such as fly ash and steel. By varying the incident beam energy one measures a profile with a depth resolution of a few nanometers. Time-resolved measurements are achieved by stopping the chemical reactions at specific times. Effects of temperature, sulfate concentration, accelerators and retarders, and superplasticizers have been investigated. Hydration of fly ashes has been studied with synthetic glass specimens whose chemical compositions are modeled on those of actual fly ashes. A combinatorial chemistry approach was used where glasses of different compositions are hydrated in various solutions for a fixed time. The resulting hydrogen depth profiles show significant differences in hydrated phases, rates of depth penetration and amount of surface etching. Hydrogen embrittlement of steel was studied on slow strain rate specimens under different corrosion potentials.