Abstract
On parabolic flights, the growth of ettringite, [Ca3Al(OH)6·12H2O]2·(SO4)3·2H2O, a major reaction product of cement with water which forms instantaneously, was crystallized under microgravity conditions and studied. In the experiments, Ca(OH)2/Al2(SO4)3 solutions were combined and reacted for 10 s, followed by immediate filtration of the suspension and subsequent quenching with acetone. For the ettringite crystals, the size, aspect ratios, quantity and morphology were determined and the results were compared with those from identical experiments performed under terrestric gravity. Under microgravity, generally smaller crystals (l–2.9 µm) precipitated in larger amount than under normal gravity (1–3.5 µm). The aspect ratios of the crystals grown under terrestric or microgravity condition were comparable at about 5.6. It is assumed that the reason for the smaller ettringite crystals is the absence of convection leading to more initial nuclei, but slower crystal growth which is diffusion limited. Apparently, no preference relative to the ion transport to the different faces of the crystals exists. The results contribute to the understanding of the mineralization of inorganic salts under microgravity conditions for which hitherto only a handful of examples were reported.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lange A, Plank J. Formation of Nano-Sized Ettringite Crystals Identified as Root Cause for Cement Incompatibility of PCE Superplasticizers[C]. Nanotechnology in Construction-Proceedings of N1COM5, Chicago, 2015
Struble L J. Synthesis and Characterization of Ettringite and Related Phases[C]. 8 International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement, 1986
Lange A, Plank J. A Study on the Cement Compatibility of PCE Superplasticizers[C]. 11thCANMET/ACI Conference on Superplasticizers and Other Chemical Admixtures in Concrete (Proceedings), ACI, Ottawa, 2015
Skoblinskaya N N, Krasilnikov K G, Nikitina L V, et al. Changes in Crystal Structure of Ettringite on Dehydration[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 1975, 5: 419–431
Perkins R, Palmer C. Solubility of Ettringite (Ca6[Al(OH)6]2(SO4)3 · 26 H2O) at 5–75 °C[J]. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1999, 63: 1969–1980
Wells A F. Structural Inorganic Chemistry 5th ed[M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984
Yoshioka K, Tazawa E, Kawai K, et al. Adsorption Characteristics of Superplasticizers on Cement Component Minerals[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2002, 32: 1507–1513
McPherson A. Virus and Protein Crystal-Growth on Earth and in Microgravity[J]. J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 1993, 26: 104–112
Zhou Y F, Li X Y, Bai S Q, et al. Comparison of Space- and Groundgrown Bi2Se0.21Te2.79 Thermoelectric Crystals[J]. J. Cryst. Growth, 2010, 312: 775–780
Liu X Y. Effect of Microgravity on Ca Mineral Crystallization and Implications for Osteoporosis in Space[J]. Appl. Phys. Lett., 2001, 79: 3539–3541
DeLucas L J, Moore K M, Long M M, et al. Protein Crystal Growth in Space, Past and Future[J]. J. Cryst. Growth, 2002, 237: 1646–1650
Kundrot C E, Judge R A, Pusey M L, et al. Microgravity and Macromolecular Crystallography[J]. Cryst. Growth Des., 2001(1): 87–99
Fontana P, Schefer J, Pettit D. Characterization of Sodium Chloride Crystals Grown in Microgravity[J]. J. Cryst. Growth, 2011, 324: 207–211
Lundager Madsen H E, Christensson F, Polyak LE, et al. Calcium Phosphate Crystallization under Terrestrial and Microgravity Conditions[J]. J. Cryst. Growth, 1995, 152: 191–202
Lundager Madsen H E, Christensson F, Chernov A A, et al. Crystallization of Calcium Phosphate in Microgravity[J]. Adv. Space Res., 1995, 16: 65–68
Sinha A, Gupta A K, Pramanick A K, et al. Mimicking Biomineralization under Microgravity[J]. Mat. Sci. Eng. C, 2009, 29: 779–784
Goetz-Neunhoeffer F, Neubauer J, Schwesig P. Mineralogical Characteristics of Ettringites Synthesized from Solutions and Suspensions[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2006, 36: 65–70
Hirsch C. Untersuchungen zur Wechselwirkung Zwischen Polymeren Fliessmitteln und Zementen bzw. Mineralphasen der Frühen Zementhydratation[D]. München: München Tech. Univ., 2005
Dalas F, Pourchet S, Rinaldi D, et al. Modification of the Rate of Formation and Surface Area of Ettringite by Polycarboxylate Ether Superplasticizers during Early C3A-CaSO4 Hydration[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2015, 69: 105–113
Black L. Raman Spectroscopy of Cementitious Materials[J]. Spectrosc. Prop. Inorg. Organomet. Compd., 2009, 40: 72–127
Frates R A, Nelson D J, Friedrich C, et al. Formation of Inorganic Precipitates in Microgravity on the STS-40[C]. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, 1996
Okubo T, Tsuchida A, Okuda T, et al. Kinetic Analyses of Colloidal Crystallization in Microgravity-Aircraft Experiments[J]. Coll. Surf. A Physiochem. Eng. Asp., 1999, 153: 515–524
Frenkel J. A General Theory of Heterophase Fluctuations and Pretransition Phenomena[J]. J. Chem. Phys., 1939, 7: 538–547
Zeldovich J B. On the Theory of New Phase Formation: Cavitation[J]. Acta Physicochim. URSR, 1943, 18: 120–137
Vekilov P G. Nucleation[J]. Cryst. Growth Des., 2010, 10: 5007–5019
Vekilov P G. The Two-step Mechanism of Nucleation of Crystals in Solution[J]. Nanoscale, 2010, 2: 2346–2357
Acknowledgement
The authors are most grateful to DLR for sponsoring the parabolic flight campaign in October 2014 which allowed them to perform these experiments. In this respect, the support received from Dr. Ulrike Friedrich and Dr. Rainer Forke is especially acknowledged. Our thanks also go to Frédéric Gai from NOVESPACE, Bordeaux whose advice on the experimental design was invaluable.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meier, M.R., Lei, L., Rinkenburger, A. et al. Crystal Growth of [Ca3Al(OH)6·12H2O]2·(SO4)3·2H2O (Ettringite) Studied Under Microgravity Conditions. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 35, 893–899 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-020-2335-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-020-2335-0