Formation of C-A-S-H phases from the interaction between concrete or cement and bentonite

Abstract

Abstract Concrete and bentonite are being considered as engineered barriers for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in argillaceous rocks. Three hydrothermal laboratory experiments of different scalable complexity were performed to improve our knowledge of the formation of calcium aluminate silicate hydrates (C-A-S-H) at the interface between the two materials: concretebentonite transport columns, lime mortar-bentonite transport columns and a portlandite- (bentonite and montmorillonite) batch experiment. Precipitation of C-A-S-H was observed in all experiments. Acicular and fibrous morphologies with certain laminar characteristics were observed which had smaller Ca/Si and larger Al/Si ratios with increasing temperature and lack of accessory minerals. The compositional fields of these C-A-S-H phases formed in the experiments are consistent with Al/(Si+Al) ratios of 0.2– 0.3 described in the literature. The most representative calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase from the montmorillonite–cement interface is Al-tobermorite. Structural analyses revealed a potential intercalation or association of montmorillonite and C-A-S-H phases at the pore scale.