Abstract
This paper examines the effects of using O2, Ar and He process gasses during the treatment of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) surface of concrete with a high-power diode laser (HPDL). The study revealed that, depending on the shield gas used, distinct difference existed in the surface condition of the concrete after HPDL treatment. In particular, the use of O2 as the shield gas was seen to result in glazes with far fewer microcracks and porosities than those generated with either Ar or He shield gases. Such differences were found to be due to the smaller O2 gas molecules dissolving molecularly into the open structure of the HPDL-generated glaze on the OPC surface of concrete and react with the glass network to increase the fluidity of the melt. This in turn was also seen to affect the cooling rate and therefore the tendency to generate microcracks.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 599-605 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Optics and Lasers in Engineering |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 12 Oct 2001 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Concrete
- Gas
- Glaze
- High-power diode laser
- Ordinary portland cement
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering