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Swelling pressure and microstructure of an activated swelling clay with temperature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

D. Tessier ,
M. Dardaine ,
A. Beaumont  and
A. M. Jaunet
D. Tessier*
Affiliation:
INRA, Unité de Science du Sol, 78026 Versailles
M. Dardaine
Affiliation:
deceased, Laboratoire de Migration et de Géochimie du Solide, CEA SACLAY, 91191 Grif sur Yvette, France
A. Beaumont
Affiliation:
INRA, Unité de Science du Sol, 78026 Versailles
A. M. Jaunet
Affiliation:
INRA, Unité de Science du Sol, 78026 Versailles
*
1Corresponding author
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Abstract

Clay from Fourges has been selected by the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique as a support in radioactive waste disposal studies. This material was activated by adding Na2CO3, then compacted at 60 MPa. Subsequently, its swelling behaviour was monitored at 90°C and 145°C for 330 days and at the end of this period the samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For this, they were embedded in a resin then sectioned with an ultramicrotome for mineralogical and chemical analyses. The initial material is essentially composed of kaolinite and smectite. Addition of Na2CO3 at room temperature induces a replacement of Ca ions by Na ions and the precipitation of finely divided carbonates on the surface of the constituents. At the end of 330 days at 90°C under a hydraulic pressure of 1 MPa, the initial particles combine and the material exerts a swelling pressure of 20 MPa. A complete reorganisation of the clay crystallites is observed without significant dissolution of the solid phases. After the same time at 145°C under a hydraulic pressure of 10 MPa, in a basic medium, the combined conditions are such that a high proportion of the clay is dissolved with formation of amorphous aluminosilicates correlated with a marked drop in the swelling pressure to 5 MPa. This work establishes the advantages of following the macroscopic properties in parallel with the microstructure variations for understanding the changes in the properties of clays.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 255 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1998

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