The growth of crystals under external pressure

Taber, Stephen

doi:10.2475/ajs.s4-41.246.532

Cited by 156 publications

(104 citation statements)

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“…When such a reaction involves an increase in solid volume and proceeds in a confined space, this can lead to development of a socalled force of crystallisation (FoC) [9,22,38,105,114,126]. In other words, reaction can result in stress being exerted on the confining boundaries of the system.…”

Section: Force Of Crystallisation: Examples and Previous Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reaction-driven casing expansion: potential for wellbore leakage mitigation

2017

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It is generally challenging to predict the postabandonment behaviour and integrity of wellbores. Leakage is, moreover, difficult to mitigate, particularly between the steel casing and outer cement sheath. Radially expanding the casing with some form of internal plug, thereby closing annular voids and fractures around it, offers a possible solution to both issues. However, such expansion requires development of substantial internal stresses. Chemical reactions that involve a solid volume increase and produce a force of crystallisation (FoC), such as CaO hydration, offer obvious potential. However, while thermodynamically capable of producing stresses in the GPa range, the maximum stress obtainable by CaO hydration has not been validated or determined experimentally. Here, we report uniaxial compaction/expansion experiments performed in an oedometer-type apparatus on precompacted CaO powder, at 65°C and at atmospheric pore fluid pressure. Using this set-up, the FoC generated during CaO hydration could be measured directly. Our results show FoC-induced stresses reaching up to 153 MPa, with reaction stopping or slowing down before completion. Failure to achieve the GPa stresses predicted by theory is attributed to competition between FoC development and its inhibiting effect on reaction progress. Microstructural observations indicate that reaction-induced stresses shut down pathways for water into the sample, hampering ongoing reaction and limiting the magnitude of stress build-up to the values observed. The results nonetheless point the way to understanding the behaviour of such systems and to finding engineering solutions that may allow large controlled stresses and strains to be achieved in wellbore sealing operations in future.

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Section: Force Of Crystallisation: Examples and Previous Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reaction-driven casing expansion: potential for wellbore leakage mitigation

2017

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“…The subject of crystallization pressure has been driven by geomorphology [14][15][16] , where it is considered to play an important role in the shaping of landscapes, both on Earth 17 and Mars [18][19][20] . However, it is in conservation science that the consequences of crystallization pressure are most feared because of their impact on monuments, such as the Pharaonic constructions in Luxor 21 , the carved city of Petra 22,23 and the medieval city of Rhodes 24 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Chemo-mechanics of salt damage in stone

et al. 2014

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Many porous materials are damaged by pressure exerted by salt crystals growing in their pores. This is a serious issue in conservation science, geomorphology, geotechnical engineering and concrete materials science. In all cases, a central question is whether crystallization pressure will cause damage. Here we present an experiment in which the crystallization pressure and the pore saturation are varied in a controlled way. We demonstrate that a strain energy failure criterion can be used to predict when damage will occur. The experiment considered is the most widely used means to study the susceptibility to salt crystallization, so quantification of this test has far-reaching implications.

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“…However, as early as 1853, J. Lavalle noticed that crystals growing from supersaturated solutions were able to push themselves upward. Later Becker and Day (1905) and Taber (1916) demonstrated that growing crystals could lift considerable weight. Correns and Steinborn (1939) subsequently provided the first quantitative expressions for crystallisation pressure as a function of supersaturation (see also the annotated translation by Flatt et al, 2007).…”

Section: Growth In Poresmentioning

confidence: 99%