Study on properties of PB-g-PS latex-modified cement mortars
The PB-g-PS latex was used to modify cement mortar, and the weight ratios of polybutadiene to styrene ranged from 70/30, 50/50 to 30/70. In the constant water-cement ratio of 0.5, and curing 24h at 20°C, RH90% air followed by 27d at 20°Cwater. This study examines the effects of weight ratios polybutadiene to styrene and the polymer-cement ratios on the flow, compressive and flexural strength and water absorption rate of PB-g-PS latex modified cement mortar. The experimental results show that the flow of modified mortar is increased with increasing polymer-cement ratios and decreasing weight ratios of polybutadiene to styrene, PB-g-PS latex can markedly reduce capillary water absorption rate. The minimum is 1.33Kg/m2. PB-g-PS latex can marked influences much on the mechanical properties of modified mortars. The compressive of the polymer modified mortar decreased, and the flexural strength of polymer modified mortar decreased as well. Overview on, PB-g-PS latex can be incorporated into cement mortars as cement modifier.
Influence of polymer on cement hydration in SBR-modified cement pastes
Abstract The influence of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) latex on cement hydrates Ca(OH)2, ettringite, C4AH13 and C–S–H gel and the degree of cement hydration is studied by means of several measure methods. The results of DSC and XRD show that the Ca(OH)2 content in wet-cured SBR-modified cement pastes increases with polymer–cement ratio (P/C) and reaches a maximum when P/C is 5%, 10% and 10% for the pastes hydrated for 3 d, 7 d and 28 d, respectively. With wet cure, appropriate addition of SBR promotes the hydration of cement, while the effect of SBR on the content of Ca(OH)2 and the degree of cement hydration is not remarkable in mixed-cured SBR-modified cement pastes. XRD results illustrate that SBR accelerates the reaction of calcium aluminate with gypsum, and thus enhances the formation and stability of the ettringite and inhibits the formation of C4AH13. The structure of aluminum-oxide and silicon-oxide polyhedron is characterized by 27Al and 29Si solid state NMR spectrum method, which shows that tetrahedron and octahedron are the main forms of aluminum-oxide polyhedrons in SBR-modified cement pastes. There are only [SiO4]4− tetrahedron monomer and dimer in the modified pastes hydrated for 3 d, but there appears three-tetrahedron polymer in the modified pastes hydrated for 28 d. The effect of low SBR dosage on the structure of aluminum-oxide and silicon-oxide polyhedron is slight. However, the combination of Al3+ with [SiO4]4− is restrained when P/C is above 15%, and the structure of Al3+ is changed obviously. Meantime, the polymerization of the [SiO4]4− tetrahedron in C–S–H gel is controlled.
In search of optimum chest radiography techniques.
A nation-wide study of chest radiography in Sweden had previously revealed a large variation in the physical and technical factors involved, in particular the radiation dose. In this study the image quality could not be assessed unambiguously. The aim of the present study was to try to establish a correlation between visual grading of radiographs and physical and technical factors in order to find the optimum chest X-ray system. The physical and technical performance of 24 chest units was evaluated. Radiographs were taken of an anthropomorphic chest phantom supplied with test structures simulating various pathologies. Image quality was assessed by visual grading analysis of the radiographs. The physical and technical parameters of the units rated best were used to exemplify good radiographic practice. The results were in agreement with the recommendations issued by the Commission of the European Communities (CEC). It was also shown that low radiation dose is compatible with high-quality radiographic imaging of the chest.