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Kinetic study of the magnesium oxychloride cement cure reaction

  • Ceramics
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Abstract

Magnesium oxychloride (MOC) is a ceramic material with significant fire-resistant properties and growing potential as an alternative building material for passive fire protection systems. The present study examined the magnesium oxychloride 5-phase cure reaction at temperatures from 35 to 55 °C using time-resolved quantitative X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry to monitor kinetics. The reaction was characterized as a two-step process: dissolution of magnesium oxide followed by crystallization of magnesium oxychloride from the solvated state. With stoichiometric proportions, 37% of the MgO dissolves before the onset of crystallization at a critical amorphous concentration. A maximum crystallinity of 82–84% was achieved for each temperature. Assuming first-order kinetics for both MgO dissolution and MOC crystallization, a kinetic model predicts 42.4 and 26.1 kJ/mol for dissolution and crystallization activation energies, respectively. This model was applied to pilot-scale production and accurately predicts the cure reaction time as a function of cure temperature. In an alternative approach to modeling the cure reaction, the Avrami nucleation and growth model was fit to calorimetric measurements. This model predicts diffusion-controlled, one-dimensional growth with an activation energy of 72.4 kJ/mol, which accounts for both dissolution and crystallization.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Colin McMillen for his training and assistance in XRD measurements and Kim Ivey from her guidance in DSC measurements. We also acknowledge the Center for Advance Fibers and Films at Clemson University, which made use of ERC Shared Facilities supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Number EEC-9731680.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 127 Earle Hall, Clemson, SC, USA

    Roque Góchez & Christopher L. Kitchens

  2. JetProducts, LLC, 1703 Westfield Loop, Houston, TX, 77073, USA

    Jim Wambaugh & Brett Rochner

  3. Institute of Environmental Toxicology (CU-ENTOX), Clemson University, 509 Westinghouse Road, Pendleton, SC, USA

    Christopher L. Kitchens

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  1. Roque Góchez
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  2. Jim Wambaugh
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  4. Christopher L. Kitchens
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Correspondence to Christopher L. Kitchens.

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Góchez, R., Wambaugh, J., Rochner, B. et al. Kinetic study of the magnesium oxychloride cement cure reaction. J Mater Sci 52, 7637–7646 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1013-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1013-x

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