Pang, Xueyu | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2021

Cement hydration kinetics study in the temperature range from 15 °C to 95 °C

The heat evolution during the hydration of cement was examined by multiple calorimetric methods: isothermal, oscillating isothermal, as well as temperature scanning tests in the temperature range from 15 °C to 95 °C. The apparent activation energy (E{sub a}) of several different types of cements were all found to decrease significantly with temperature. Type of additives and water to cement ratio had little influence on the temperature dependence of E{sub a}. The correlation between E{sub a} and temperature may be mathematically simplified to a step function, where E{sub a} is a nonzero constant below a critical temperature (T{sub cr}) and reduces to zero above that temperature. The proposed model of E{sub a} was combined with a scale factor model to simulate the influence of curing temperature on the hydration kinetics of cement with significantly improved accuracy compared to an earlier model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Long-term strength retrogression of silica-enriched oil well cement: A comprehensive multi-approach analysis

The strength retrogression of a Class G cement enriched by adding 60–80% silica cured under the condition of 200 °C and 50 MPa were investigated by multiple different analysis methods. Short-term strength analysis suggests sonic strength testing is a poor indicator of real mechanical strength at such curing condition. Long-term testing up to 142 d shows all designed systems experiences dramatic deterioration in physical and mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, Young's modulus, water permeability and gas permeability. Further testing was conducted using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, mercury intrusion and scanning electron microscope. The study reveals that the set cement experiences significant microstructure coarsening with increasing curing time, especially after 30 d curing. The strength retrogression and microstructure coarsening seem to be accompanied with the continued consumption of silica, and are likely caused by the gradual conversion of semi-crystalline C-S-H into crystalline tobermorite and xonolite over the long-term curing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗