Quicklime Hydration Control via Alkylene Glycol Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid, highly exothermic reaction of calcium oxide when exposed to water is difficult to control, leading to challenges in its use as an expansive agent in concrete, as it can cause unintended hydration and cracking.
Innovation Solution
Mixing quicklime particles with an alkylene glycol-based organic liquid to create a liquid paste or slurry that provides a protective barrier around the calcium oxide, controlling its hydration and allowing for safer and more accurate dispersion in concrete mixes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If quicklime particles are mixed with water to create expansive agent in concrete, then expansion capability is improved, but rapid exothermic reaction causes difficulty in controlling hydration and risk of cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating quicklime particles with an organic liquid (such as vegetable oil or mineral oil) before adding them to concrete. This pre-coating creates a protective barrier that delays the hydration reaction, allowing the quicklime to remain stable during mixing and placement, and only hydrate later to provide the desired expansion. This resolves the contradiction by enabling control over the timing of the expansion reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an organic liquid as an intermediary substance between the quicklime particles and water. This intermediary coating on the quicklime surface prevents immediate contact with water, thereby controlling the hydration reaction. The intermediary allows the quicklime to be handled and placed in concrete without premature reaction, while still enabling the expansion function when the coating eventually breaks down or is penetrated.
2Reliability
If quicklime particles are used as expansive agent, then crack prevention during shrinkage is improved, but rapid hydration reaction creates unintended side effects and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating quicklime particles with an organic liquid (such as vegetable oil or mineral oil) before adding them to concrete. This pre-coating creates a protective barrier that delays the hydration reaction, allowing the quicklime to remain stable during mixing and placement, and only hydrate later to provide the desired expansion. This resolves the contradiction by enabling control over the timing of the expansion reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an organic liquid as an intermediary substance between the quicklime particles and water. This intermediary coating on the quicklime surface prevents immediate contact with water, thereby controlling the hydration reaction. The intermediary allows the quicklime to be handled and placed in concrete without premature reaction, while still enabling the expansion function when the coating eventually breaks down or is penetrated.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively postpones the onset of hydration, reducing the risk of cracking and enabling more controlled expansion, resulting in improved concrete stability and reduced shrinkage issues.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid environment provides a protective liquid barrier coating (e.g., calcium hydroxide) around the quicklime particles that helps to control hydration of calcium oxide when introduced into the aqueous environment of a concrete mix
Implementation Method 2
upon exposure to water, it undergoes a rapid, highly exothermic reaction that is difficult to control
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a liquid composition of quicklime particles within an alkylene glycol-based paste or slurry environment, which allows for pumpability and meterability of a liquid composition into cementitious materials such as concrete and mortar. Treated quicklime particles of the present invention manifest an unexpected and surprising hydration induction postponement behavior, as demonstrated through calorimetric testing.