Modification of Chrysotile Fiber Surface and Its Effect on the Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Chrysotile Cement

Abstract

This paper presents data on the surface modification of chrysotile fibers with sulfuric acid, as well as the effect of modification on the final properties of chrysotile cement. It was shown that the treatment of the starting chrysotile with a solution of sulfuric acid promotes an increase in the degree of fuzzing its fibers. The degree of fiber fuzzing of the source chrysotile was 34%, while that of the one treated with acid was 47%. It was established that the modification increases the adsorption activity of chrysotile by 38%, as well as leading to a recharging of the fiber surface and a decrease in the absolute value of the negative surface charge (electrokinetic potential). The data of the main physicomechanical characteristics of chrysotile cement are presented on the basis of the initial and modified chrysotile obtained by the filtration method. By the method of X-ray phase analysis, it was shown that, with the use of modified chrysotile, the degree of cement hydration somewhat increases, which is due to the processing of chrysotile.