We examine the influence of surface charge on the percolation, gel-point and phase behavior of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions in relation to their nonlinear rheological material response. Desulfation decreases CNC surface charge density which lead ...
Recent neutron-diffraction experiments in honeycomb CrI3 quasi-2D ferromagnets have evinced the existence of a gap at the Dirac point in their spin-wave spectra. The existence of this gap has been attributed to strong in-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya or Kita ...
The properties of a physical system only exist in relation to its environment. This thesis presents the development of a novel spin qubit scanning probe microscope operating over a wide range of environmental conditions. The qubit, which sits at the heart ...
Native reactive electrophile species (RES) such as 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) act as cellular signals through covalent modification of kinetically-privileged electrophile sensor proteins. Research efforts in the field focus mainly on identifying these sensor p ...
With the decrease in availability of common supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash in Europe, the search for appropriate SCMs should be dealt with locally. A com-bination of abundant low-grade calcined clay and limestone powder has pro ...
To reduce the CO2 footprint of construction materials, concrete producers blend their cement with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). SCMs such as fly ash or blast furnace slag are mostly the byproducts of other industries. And while SCMs are chos ...
Depending on the environmental conditions, concrete materials can come into contact with sulfate ions which are widely present in rivers, underground water, sewers, seawater and soil. Sulfates can react with the cement paste in concrete and cause damage wh ...
This thesis investigates the water vapour sorption behaviour of samples with maximized calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) content. Primarily, the role of heterogeneous and homogeneous cavitation has been studied during the drying of cementitious materials. C ...
The objective of this study is to analyse the mechanical and durability properties of a high-performance mortars based on low grade kaolin clay and the effect of electrical conductivity and pore microstructure on the chloride penetration resistance. A tota ...
The inclusion of high specific surface materials such as calcined clays in cementitious systems enhances the hydration of clinker products at very early ages, but it may also increase water demand; thus, the pursuit of a flowing concrete may demand an incr ...
This study examines the role of cavitation in drying cementitious materials. Classical nucleation theory is used to understand and study the parameters that influence cavitation pressures. The water desorption isotherms indicate that both heterogeneous and ...
The calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) are without doubt one of the most important hydration products in a hardened cement paste. Giving the complexity of the microstructure that forms by hydration of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and the more recently use ...