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Thermal stability of thaumasite

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Abstract

The thermal stability of thaumasite, Ca3Si(OH)6(SO4)(CO3)·12H2O, has been determined and new thermodynamic data defining its stability and solubility are reported. The absolute upper limit of stability of thaumasite in a saturated aqueous solution at 1 bar pressure is 68 ± 5 °C. This numerical value apparently conflicts with the widespread view that thaumasite is only stable at low temperatures, <20 °C. The belief that thaumasite preferably forms at low temperatures is also encouraged by thermodynamic calculations: its free energy of formation enlarges rapidly with decreasing temperatures. Thaumasite solubility increases rapidly with rising temperature so it is destabilised in many mineralogical phase assemblages, often at temperature much below 68 °C. These so called conditional limits, i.e., conditional on thaumasite coexisting in particular mineralogical assemblages, are important in practice to limit its occurrence at high temperatures but should nevertheless not be confused with absolute stability, as determined from the pure compound. Hence two types of stability exist, absolute and conditional. The possibility of stabilising thaumasite to higher temperatures, >68 °C, by forming solid solution with ettringite components is discussed: it remains a theoretical but as yet unproven possibility.

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Notes

  1. Balonis [3] confirms that rigorous washing of ettringite, synthesised by the sucrose method, reduces or eliminates these DTA/DTG effects. Thus it is likely that sucrose is strongly retained at the surface of thaumasite. However, rigorous washing also alters the bulk composition of the solid owing to its incongruent dissolution.

  2. Except for minor sulfate which is sorbed by C–S–H.

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Acknowledgments

The support of NANOCEM, a European industrial/ academic partnership for fundamental research on cementitious materials, is acknowledged. We also thank EMPA (Switzerland) and in particular, Dr. Barbara Lothenbach, for helpful discussion, work experience and the use of EMPA internal equipment during this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Holcim Technology Ltd., Innovation – Product Technology, Im Schachen 5113, Holderbank, Switzerland

    Thomas Matschei

  2. University of Aberdeen, 033 Meston Building, Old Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, Scotland, UK

    Fredrik P. Glasser

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  1. Thomas Matschei
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  2. Fredrik P. Glasser
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Correspondence to Thomas Matschei.

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Matschei, T., Glasser, F.P. Thermal stability of thaumasite. Mater Struct 48, 2277–2289 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0309-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0309-4

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