Retarding mechanism of Zn2+ species in geopolymer material using Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations
Chamssine, Fawzi; H.S. Gasparotto, Luiz; Angelo Fonsecade Souza, Miguel; Khalifeh, Mahmoud; Cezar de Oliveira Freitas, Julio
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3063237Utgivelsesdato
2022Metadata
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Originalversjon
Chamssine, F., Gasparotto, L. H., Souza, M. A. F., Khalifeh, M., & de Oliveira Freitas, J. C. (2022). Retarding mechanism of Zn2+ species in geopolymer material using Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 21036. 10.1038/s41598-022-25552-0Sammendrag
Geopolymers are the most promising alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement for oil-well cementing and well abandonment. To that end, the slurry needs a required pumping time ensured by the addition of retarders. Although zinc has been widely known to prolong the setting time of geopolymers, its mechanism of action has yet to be fully elucidated. It is herein hypothesized that zinc ions impede the first stages of silicate oligomerization (Si–O–Al), culminating in longer setting times. Pumping time measurements showed that Zn(NO3)2 delayed the setting time by 5 h in comparison to the zinc-less sample. DFT calculations revealed Si(OH)4 to react with [Zn(OH)4]2− via a barrierless transition state, evidencing a kinetic ground for the retardation effect. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy corroborated the DFT results by showing that Q3 species in the proposed mechanism are formed more rapidly in the presence of zinc ions than in its absence.