The Effect of Adding Sodium Carbonate on the Electrical Conductivity of Aluminum Paste

Base metal pastes have been widely used in the preparation of ZnO varistor electrodes, and it is important to accurately grasp the relevant mechanisms affecting the conductivity of aluminum electrodes. In this paper, the effect of adding sodium carbonate on the conductive property of aluminum paste was assessed, and the microscopic mechanism during aluminum electrode sintering explored. The results show that adding sodium carbonate can reduce the softening point of glass powder and enhance its fluidity. Sodium carbonate, glass, and aluminum oxide film react together; consequently, the aluminum oxide film is partially dissolved by reaction to produce defects, and there is tight contact at the interface between the aluminum powder particles. The sodium ions will displace the aluminum ions in the alumina, conferring the alumina film with a certain ionic conductivity. At the same time, sodium ions are doped into the aluminum lattice, which causes the aluminum lattice to swell. After sintering, the structure of aluminum electrode is compact and its electrical conductivity is significantly improved. This study is a valuable reference for the theoretical research and the potential applications of aluminum paste.

Alkali-Activated Hybrid Cements Based on Fly Ash and Construction and Demolition Wastes Using Sodium Sulfate and Sodium Carbonate

This article demonstrates the possibility of producing alkali-activated hybrid cements based on fly ash (FA), and construction and demolition wastes (concrete waste, COW; ceramic waste, CEW; and masonry waste, MAW) using sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) (2–6%) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) (5–10%) as activators. From a mixture of COW, CEW, and MAW in equal proportions (33.33%), a new precursor called CDW was generated. The precursors were mixed with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) (10–30%). Curing of the materials was performed at room temperature (25 °C). The hybrid cements activated with Na2SO4 reached compressive strengths of up to 31 MPa at 28 days of curing, and the hybrid cements activated with Na2CO3 yielded compressive strengths of up to 22 MPa. Based on their mechanical performance, the optimal mixtures were selected: FA/30OPC-4%Na2SO4, CDW/30OPC-4%Na2SO4, FA/30OPC-10%Na2CO3, and CDW/30OPC-10%Na2CO3. At prolonged ages (180 days), these mixtures reached compressive strength values similar to those reported for pastes based on 100% OPC. A notable advantage is the reduction of the heat of the reaction, which can be reduced by up to 10 times relative to that reported for the hydration of Portland cement. These results show the feasibility of manufacturing alkaline-activated hybrid cements using alternative activators with a lower environmental impact.