More Like this

1. First-Principles Study on Optoelectronic Properties of Fe-Doped Montmorillonite Clay

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00697  

   Ghazanfari, Sarah ; Han, Yulun ; Xia, Wenjie ; Kilin, Dmitri S. ( May 2022 , The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters)
2. Montmorillonite-iron crosslinked alginate beads for aqueous phosphate removal

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130837  

   Das, Tonoy K. ; Scott, Quentin ; Bezbaruah, Achintya N. ( October 2021 , Chemosphere)
3. A Coarse-Grained Model for the Mechanical Behavior of Na-Montmorillonite Clay

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00005  

   Ghazanfari, Sarah ; Faisal, H.M. Nasrullah ; Katti, Kalpana S. ; Katti, Dinesh R. ; Xia, Wenjie ( April 2022 , Langmuir)
4. Efficacy of functionalized sodium-montmorillonite in mitigating alkali-silica reaction

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2023.107139  

   Luo, Dayou ; Wei, Jianqiang ( December 2023 , Applied Clay Science)

   Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a fatal deterioration that can cause volume expansion, cracking, and premature failure of concrete. In this study, the efficacy of sodium montmorillonite (NaMt) organically functionalized with two non-ionic surfactants (ONaMts) in mitigating ASR is investigated by determining the expansion and cracking behavior of mortars containing reactive aggregates. The underlying mitigation mechanisms were analyzed through the quantification of reaction products and in-situ characterizations of ASR gels. The results revealed that, compared with raw NaMt, ASR-induced expansion and cracking can be more substantially mitigated in the presence of ONaMts, which is supported by the improved consumption of portlandite and reduced formations of both crystalline and amorphous ASR gels. The functionalized ONaMts appeared to further suppress the formation of Q3 polymerization sites, decrease the [K + Na]/Si atomic ratio and increase the Al/Ca in ASR gels. 

   more » « less
5. Understanding the role of a novel internal conditioning technique with functionalized montmorillonite in cement hydration kinetics

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131223  

   Luo, Dayou ; Wei, Jianqiang ( July 2023 , Construction and Building Materials)

   A novel internal conditioning (InCon) technique based on saturated sodium montmorillonite (sMT) functionalized with two non-ionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene (9) nonylphenylether and t-octyl phenoxy poly ethoxyethanol, is investigated in this study. With the integration of water for internal curing and pozzolanic reactivity in a single system, the role of InCon in modifying cement hydration kinetics is comprehensively elucidated. The results indicate that, in the presence of InCon, both silicate reaction and secondary aluminate reaction rates are enhanced, and the apparent activation energy (Ea) of cement hydration was decreased from 34.3 KJ/mol to 28.7 KJ/mol indicating a lower temperature sensitivity and threshold of the cement hydration reactions. In addition, decreased CH contents, improved degree of hydration, increased chemical shrinkage, and the formation of additional Csingle bondSsingle bondH and aluminum-containing phases were obtained from the cement with InCon. The autogenous shrinkage of cement and the negative impact of dry sMT on the early age strength of cement can be offset by InCon paving a new path to improve the overall properties of concrete. 

   more » « less