Abstract. In this survey we present studies on mortar mixes added with oxblood, which was a commonly found local waste material, with a wide application and long history of use; a precise recipe of lime–pozzolan mortar with blood addition from a 19th-century Italian manual was chosen, and model samples were prepared accordingly, with the aim of better understanding the chemical, mineralogical and physical characteristics of such compositions, starting with a blank reference specimen. The specimens were analysed by means of scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction, and the results suggested that amorphous calcium carbonate could be formed in the specimens with oxblood addition. These preliminary results allow a better understanding of historical building practices, measuring effects induced by organic additives on mortar microstructure, as well as an evaluation of new performances obtained in mortar mixes. Moreover, this paper intends to propose a full multi-discipline approach to bridge the history of architecture and building materials to conservation science.
Organic compounds have frequently been added into lime mortars for property modifications, in order to satisfy various functional needs in building techniques. This study applies Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in transmission, reflection, and attenuated total reflection (ATR) modes to characterize lime-based mortar specimens containing oxblood, which has been used as additive as a common practice of long history in many parts of the world. The specimens were prepared basing upon a 19th-century Italian historic recipe, with the intention to have a better understanding on the possible characteristics of such mortars. Thermal analysis, color measurement, and static contact angle test were also used. After curing, the specimens show a distinctive dark-red color on the top surface, which is different from the bulk. Color measurements on the surface suggest that this color was formed at an early stage and was able to maintain stable for a relatively long period of time. Both transmission and reflection FT-IR confirm the preferential accumulation of proteins on the top surface, which should have induced their water repellency according to the static contact angle test. In addition, specimens show weaker calcite bands in FT-IR transmission, reflection, as well as ATR spectra; the pattern of ATR spectra after the thermal analysis to 500 °C suggests the formation of amorphous calcium carbonate, which is related to the presence of oxblood.
Tungsten is one of the most promising plasma-facing materials (PFMs) to be used in the nuclear fusion reactor as divertor material in the future. In this work, W2+-ions bombardment is used to simulate the neutron irradiation damage to commercial pure tungsten (W) and rolled tungsten–potassium (W–K). The 7 MeV of 3 × 1015 W2+-ions/cm2, 3 MeV of 4.5 × 1014 W2+, and 2 MeV of 3 × 1014 W2+-ions/cm2 are applied at 923 K in sequence to produce a uniform region of 100 nm–400 nm beneath the sample surface with the maximum damage value of 11.5 dpa. Nanoindentation is used to inspect the changes in hardness and elastic modulus after self-ion irradiation. Irradiation hardening occurred in both materials. The irradiation hardening of rolled W–K is affected by two factors: one is the absorption of vacancies and interstitial atoms by potassium bubbles, and the other is the interaction between potassium bubbles and dislocations. Under the condition of 11.5 dpa, the capability of defect absorption can reach a threshold. As a result, dislocations finally dominate the hardening of rolled W–K. Specific features of dislocation loops in W–K are further observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to explain the hardening effect. This work might provide valuable enlightenment for W–K alloy as a promising plasma facing material candidate.
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