SBIR Phase II: Automated Foam Index Test Instrumentation

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目旨在开发一种原型自动泡沫指数测试（AFIT）仪器，用于测量混凝土中使用的矿物掺合料的泡沫指数;以及一种原型AFIT仪器，用于控制矿物掺合料和混凝土中引气剂的剂量。 AFIT仪器利用泡沫的物理行为来确定气泡的稳定性和破裂活性。第一阶段项目确认了AFIT测量空气滞留的概念。 第二阶段项目创建了一个商业就绪的仪器。 第二阶段的研究目标是：（1）构建、测试并改进桌面AFIT和自动采样，控制AFIT原型仪器;（2）确认AFIT原型的泡沫指数/空气含量值与目视/ASTM测量值之间的相关性;（3）在合作伙伴公司安装AFIT，并在工业环境中验证其功效;以及（4）将这些仪器商业化用于混凝土工业。AFIT在混凝土工业中的广泛商业应用将促进用更便宜的矿物掺合料取代水泥，其规格限制高达30%。 从世界范围来看，与这种替换相关的潜在费用减少每年超过50亿美元。 还产生了重大的社会效益。 首先，由于水泥生产的能源密集度比所有其他工业活动的平均能源密集度高出约10倍，因此，当水泥被能源密集度较低的替代品取代时，全世界的绿色房屋气体排放量将大幅减少。 其次，由于所使用的主要矿物掺合料是燃煤灰，并且由于其现在主要是填埋的，因此环境影响和土地使用问题得到改善。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a prototype Automated Foam Index Test (AFIT) instrument for measuring foam indices of mineral admixtures used in concrete; and, a prototype AFIT instrument for controlling dosage of air entraining agents into mineral admixtures and concrete. AFIT instruments take advantage of the physical behavior of foams to identify bubble stability and breakup activity. The Phase I project confirmed concepts behind AFIT to measure air entrapment. The Phase II project creates a commercial-ready instrument. The Phase II research objectives are to (1) construct, test and then refine the tabletop AFIT and the automated sampling, control AFIT prototype instruments; (2) confirm correlations between the foam index/air content values from AFIT prototypes and visual/ASTM measurements; (3) install an AFIT at a partner company and verify its efficacy within a industrial setting; and (4) commercialize these instruments for the concrete industry. Commercially widespread application of AFIT for the concrete industry would promote replacing cement with less expensive mineral admixtures up to specification limits of 30%. On a worldwide view, the potential cost reduction associated with this replacement is greater than $5 billion per year. Significant societal benefits also accrue. First, because cement production is approximately 10 times more energy intensive than the average of all other industrial activities, green house gas emissions worldwide are decreased significantly when cement is replaced by a less energy-intensive substitute. Second, because the primary mineral admixture used is coal combustion ash, and because it is now predominantly landfilled, environmental impacts and land usage issues are ameliorated.