CEMENT GROUT MATERIAL AND INSTALLATION METHOD OF SAME

Abstract

A cement grout material is provided, which does not freeze even in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. or below, and which does not require fuel or large-scaled equipment for maintaining curing temperature. Lithium nitrite is added to a cement grout material that contains cement, water and an admixture. By setting the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement to a value from 3 to 10% by weight, freezing of the grout material is able to be prevented even in an installation environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. during the initial stage of installation. By setting the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement to a value from 4.5 to 8% by weight, freezing of the grout material is able to be prevented even in an installation environment where the ambient temperature can be −10° C. during the initial stage of installation.

Claims

1. A cement grout material containing cement, water and an admixture, the cement grout material being characterized in that lithium nitrite is added to said cement grout material, and the weight ratio of said lithium nitrite to said cement is in the range of 3 to 10% by weight.

2. The cement grout material according to claim 1, wherein the cement grout material includes a cold weather cement grout material intended for applications to installation in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. during the initial stage of installation.

3. The cement grout material according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of said lithium nitrite to said cement is in the range of 4.5 to 8% by weight.

4. The cement grout material according to claim 1, wherein the cement grout material includes a cold weather cement grout material intended for applications to installation in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −10° C. in the initial stage of installation.

5. The cement grout material according to claim 1, wherein the cement grout material includes a cement grout material intended for applications to installation in a highly corrosive environment where a steel member is subjected to corrosion caused by a chloride ion.

6. An installation method of a cement grout material containing cement, water and an admixture, wherein lithium nitrite is added to said cement grout material, and the weight ratio of said lithium nitrite to said cement is in the range of 3 to 10% by weight, the cement grout material installation method being characterized in that curing or heating is performed such that an installation environment in places to install said cement grout material is kept at a temperature of −5° C. or above.

7. An installation method of a cement grout material containing cement, water and an admixture, wherein lithium nitrite is added to said cement grout material, and the weight ratio of said lithium nitrite to said cement is in the range of 4.5 to 8% by weight, the cement grout material installation method being characterized in that curing or heating is performed such that an installation environment in places to install said cement grout material is kept at a temperature of −10° C. or above.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of the relation between the weight ratio of lithium nitrite to cement and the compressive strength in the case of a curing temperature having been assumed to be −5° C. in an experiment 2 about a cement grout material according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a graphic representation of the relation between the weight ratio of lithium nitrite to cement and the compressive strength in the case of a curing temperature having been assumed to be −10° C. in an experiment 3 about the cement grout material according to the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the outline of a method of preparing a test piece for use in an experiment 4 about the cement grout material according to the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the outline of a test piece to be used for an accelerated corrosion test in the experiment 4.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows the outline of a spontaneous potential measurement method involved in the accelerated corrosion test in the experiment 4.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a graphic representation of the relation between the spontaneous potential and the addition rate of lithium nitrite in the experiment 4.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows the outline of a prestressed concrete injection testing body in an experiment 5.

MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

[0040] The present invention is to provide a cement grout material containing cement, water and an admixture, the cement grout material being characterized in that lithium nitrite is added thereto, and the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement is in the range of 3 to 10% by weight.

[0041] While deterioration in grout material strength is likely to occur when the lithium nitrite is added to the cement grout material, it is noted that the present invention shall make use of the lithium nitrite in an allowable range where the grout material can meet its reference strength and quality.

[0042] Examples of available admixtures preferably include commercially-available highly-viscous admixtures consisting of compounds such as a water-soluble polymeric ether compound and a melamine sulfonic acid-based compound for the cement grout material, for instance, but are not limited thereto.

[0043] The cement to be used can be ordinary Portland cement, high-early-strength cement or mixed cement, for instance, but is not limited by a cement type only if being one causing no problem in quality or durability when the lithium nitrite is added.

[0044] The lithium nitrite may be added in an aqueous solution state or a solid state. The concentration in an aqueous solution state case of the lithium nitrite does not matter. However, the concentration of a lithium nitrite aqueous solution is normally in the range of about 5 to 43% by weight, preferably, 25 to 40% by weight from the viewpoint of handling.

[0045] The cement grout material of the present invention can be used as a PC grout material for prestressed concrete construction in a cold region during the coldest season, for instance, and is also allowed to be applied to installation even in a cold environment of a temperature as low as −5° C., by adding the lithium nitrite in an amount of 3 to 10% by weight based on the cement.

[0046] Namely, when it is assumed that the cement grout material of the present invention is applied to installation in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. during the initial stage of installation, the lithium nitrite is added in an amount of 3 to 10% by weight based on the cement, thereby resulting in allowing freezing of the installed grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality without need to use any large-scaled equipment such as a curing enclosure for maintaining the curing temperature or any fuel for heating.

[0047] On the assumption that an installation environment of −5° C. is reached during the initial stage of installation, when the amount of the lithium nitrite added based on the cement is smaller than 3% by weight, a reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 generally required for PC grout by the material age of 28 days may not be obtained.

[0048] When the amount of the lithium nitrite added based on the cement is greater than 10% by weight, the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 generally required for the PC grout by the material age of 28 days may not be obtained too.

[0049] Incidentally, although a curing enclosure or heating for maintaining an environment of a temperature equivalent to −5° C. or above is necessary when the ambient temperature is predicted to be lower than an initially estimated temperature at the time right after installation, the cost for curing enclosure placements or a heating apparatus can be considerably reduced, as compared with a conventional grout material installation case.

[0050] Further, when it is assumed that the grout material is applied to installation in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −10° C. during the initial stage of installation, the lithium nitrite is added in an amount of 4.5 to 8% by weight based on the cement, thereby resulting in allowing freezing of the installed grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality without need to use any large-scaled equipment such as the curing enclosure for maintaining the curing temperature or any fuel for heating.

[0051] On the assumption that an installation environment of −10° C. is reached during the initial stage of installation, when the amount of the lithium nitrite added based on the cement is smaller than 4.5% by weight, the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 generally required for the PC grout by the material age of 28 days may not be obtained.

[0052] When the amount of the lithium nitrite added based on the cement is greater than 8% by weight, the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 generally required for the PC grout by the material age of 28 days may not be obtained too.

[0053] Incidentally, although the curing enclosure or heating for maintaining an environment of a temperature equivalent to −10° C. or above is necessary when the ambient temperature is predicted to be lower than an initially estimated temperature at the time right after installation, the cost for the curing enclosure placements or the heating apparatus can be considerably reduced, as compared with the conventional grout material installation case.

[0054] Moreover, the cement grout material of the present invention when applied to installation in the environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. or below provides an effect of enabling the considerable reduction in the cost for the curing enclosure placements or the heating apparatus as compared with the conventional grout material installation case, as described above, and in addition to this, it has been experimentally confirmed that the cement grout material of the present invention is excellently effective in preventing the rust of a steel member in an environment where this cement grout material in a hardened state is exposed to a chloride ion (for instance, an effect of preventing the rust of a PC steel wire placed inside a sheath in which the grout material is to be filled), as will be detailed later.

[0055] A cement grout material installation method of the present invention is to install a cement grout material containing cement, water and an admixture, wherein lithium nitrite is added to the cement grout material, and the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement is in the range of 3 to 10% by weight, the cement grout material installation method being characterized in that in applications of the cement grout material to installation in an environment where the ambient temperature can be −5° C. or below, for instance, curing or heating is performed such that an installation environment in places to install the cement grout material is kept at a temperature of −5° C. or above.

[0056] As described above, the lithium nitrite is added in an amount of 3 to 10% by weight based on the cement, thereby resulting in allowing freezing of the installed grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality without need to use any large-scaled equipment such as the curing enclosure for maintaining the curing temperature or any fuel for heating, until an installation environment of −5° C. is reached, so that when an installation environment where the ambient temperature is lower than −5° C. is reached, curing or heating is performed such that the installation environment in places to install the cement grout material is kept at a temperature of −5° C. or above, thereby resulting in also allowing freezing of the grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality.

[0057] While an upper limitation on what is allowed at the time when curing or heating is performed is not restricted in particular, it is to be understood that in a mix proportion case of the cement grout material of the present invention, the requisite quality can be maintained even in an environment of less than 5° C. assumed to affect the quality in an ordinary cement grout material case, and accordingly, curing or heating may be performed such that an installation environment is kept substantially about at temperatures in the range of −5° C. or above to less than 5° C. or not more than 0° C. when the ambient temperature is lower than −5° C. It is noted that the term “substantially” stated herein means that there may arise also a situation where some deviation from the above temperature range will temporarily occur in association with temperature control.

[0058] Further, the lithium nitrite is added in an amount of 4.5 to 8% by weight based on the cement, thereby resulting in allowing freezing of the installed cement grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality without need to use any large-scaled equipment such as the curing enclosure for maintaining the curing temperature or any fuel for heating, until an installation environment of −10° C. is reached, so that when an installation environment where the ambient temperature is lower than −10° C. is reached, curing or heating is performed such that the installation environment in places to install the cement grout material is kept at a temperature of −10° C. or above, thereby resulting in also allowing freezing of the grout material to be prevented so as to ensure the quality.

[0059] In this case, curing or heating may be performed such that the installation environment is kept substantially about at temperatures in the range of −10° C. or above to less than 5° C., not more than 0° C. or not more than −5° C. when the ambient temperature is lower than −10° C., for instance.

EXAMPLES

[0060] Hereinafter will be described experiments 1 to 3 about the cement grout material according to the present invention, together with comparative experiments when calcium nitrite belonging to the same nitrite group was used instead of the lithium nitrite.

Experiment 1

[0061] For an experiment 1, a performance test was carried out based on the assumption of applications to installation in the environment where the ambient temperature can be −10° C. during the initial stage of installation.

[0062] Materials for use in the experiment 1 are as follows.

[0063] Cement: Ordinary Portland cement

[0064] Lithium nitrite: Aqueous solution containing 40% by weight of lithium nitrite

[0065] Admixture: Admixture for non-bleeding and highly-viscous high-performance cement grout and grouting mortar (under the tradename “MasterFlow 152” produced by BASF Japan Ltd., “MasterFlow” being a registered trademark of Construction Research & Technology GmbH)

[0066] Table 1 lists mix proportions for the experiment 1. In the Table 1, W represents a unit water amount, C represents a unit cement amount, and W/C represents a water-cement ratio.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 WEIGHT 40 WT % RATIO OF LITHIUM LITHIUM NITRITE NITRITE AQUEOUS TO MIX W/C W C ADMIXTURE SOLUTION CEMENT No. MARKS PROPORTION (%) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (%) 1 M-Li2.68 MIX 42% 499 1327 13.3 89.0 2.68 PROPORTION IN 1 m.sup.3 2 M-Li5.25 MIX 43% 447 1290 12.9 169.4 5.25 PROPORTION IN 1 m.sup.3 3 M-Li6.0 MIX 45% 447 1246 12.5 186.9 6.0 PROPORTION IN 1 m.sup.3 4 M-Li9.0 MIX 43% 365 1260 12.6 283.5 9.0 PROPORTION IN 1 m.sup.3

[0067] The experiment 1 was performed to inspect the quality in regards to PC grout performances, based on a testing method of flowability of PC grout (JSCE-F531), a testing method of material segregation resistance of PC grout (JSCE-F534), a testing method of bleeding rate and volume change rate of PC grout (JSCE-F535), a testing method of chloride ion content and a testing method of compressive strength of PC grout (JSCE-G531). Table 2 lists the test results.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 TEST RESULTS ADDED ADDED ADDED WITH WITH WITH LITHIUM LITHIUM LITHIUM NITRITE NITRITE NITRITE OF OF OF TESTING DETERMINATION C × 5.25 C × 6.0 C × 9.0 TEST ITEMS METHOD REFERENCE WT % WT % WT % FLOWABILITY JP FLOW JSCE-F 531 14 TO 23 SECS. 15.7 SECS ~ 15.2 SECS TEST CONE MATERIAL TILTING JSCE-F 534 NO NO ~ NO SEGREGATION TUBE TEST BLEEDING BLEEDING BLEEDING RESISTANCE TEST BLEEDING RATE VERTICAL JSCE-F 535 0.3% OR LESS    0% ~    0% TEST TUBE TEST VOLUME VERTICAL JSCE-F 535 0.5% TO 0.5% −0.33% ~ −0.33% CHANGE RATE TUBE TEST TEST CHLORIDE ION CALCULATED — 0.08 MASS % 0.320 kg/m.sup.3 ~ 0.311 kg/m.sup.3 CONTENT TEST BASED ON OR LESS ALL BASED ON MATERIAL CEMENT QUALITY (1.0 kg/m.sup.3 OR LESS) TEST RESULTS COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH JSCE-G 531 30 N/mm.sup.2 OR 35.5 N/mm.sup.2 32.5 N/mm.sup.2 29.0 N/mm.sup.2 TEST MORE EVALUATION PASSED PASSED FAILED

[0068] The results of a PC grout flowability test (Rheology test) were 15.7 seconds when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and 15.2 seconds when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and have proved to be within a determination reference range in either case. The results of a PC grout material segregation resistance test were no recognition of bleeding when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and also when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and there was no problem in material segregation resistance.

[0069] The results of a PC grout bleeding rate test were 0% when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and also when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and have proved to be not more than a determination reference value of 0.3%. The results of a volume change rate test were −0.33% when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and also when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and have proved to be within a determination reference range of −0.5% to 0.5%.

[0070] The results of a chloride ion content test were 0.320 kg/m.sup.3 when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and 0.311 kg/m.sup.3 when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and have proved to be within a determination reference range of 1.0 kg/m.sup.3.

[0071] The results of a PC grout compressive strength test were 35.5 N/mm.sup.2 when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 5.25% by weight and 32.5 N/mm.sup.2 when added in an amount of 6.0% by weight, and have proved to exceed a determination reference value of 30 N/mm.sup.2. However, the results thereof were 9.0 N/mm.sup.2 when the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 2.68% by weight and 29.0 N/mm.sup.2 when added in an amount of 9.0% by weight, and have proved to be less than the determination reference value of 30 N/mm.sup.2.

Comparative Experiment

[0072] For a comparative experiment, a performance test was carried out based on the assumption of applications to installation in the environment where the ambient temperature can be −10° C., in regards to cases where the calcium nitrite was used instead of the lithium nitrite.

[0073] Materials for use in the comparative experiment are as follows.

[0074] Cement: Ordinary Portland cement

[0075] Calcium nitrite: Aqueous solution containing 30% by weight of calcium nitrite was used, and in terms of the calcium nitrite, the weight ratio of the calcium nitrite to the cement was specified to be, by weight, 2.5%, 4.36% and 6.2%.

[0076] Admixture: Same admixture as that used in the experiment 1

[0077] Table 3 lists mix proportions for the comparative experiment, and Table 4 lists the results of a compressive strength test involved in the comparative experiment.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 WEIGHT RATIO 30 WT % OF CALCIUM CALCIUM NITRITE NITRITE MIX AD- AQUEOUS TO PROPOR- W/C W C MIX- SOLUTION CEMENT No. TION (%) (kg) (kg) TURE (kg) (%) 1 MIX 43% 489 1317 13.2 110.8 2.5 PROPOR- TION IN 1 m.sup.3 2 MIX 43% 430 1309 13.1 190.4 4.36 PROPOR- TION IN 1 m.sup.3 3 MIX 43% 372 1302 13.0 269.0 6.2 PROPOR- TION IN 1 m.sup.3

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST REPORTS IN LABORATORY TEST MATERIAL AGE OF 28 DAYS CURING TEMPERATURE OF −10° C. AMOUNT COMPRESSIVE OF STRENGTH CALCIUM (N/mm.sup.2) MEAN NITRITE TEST PIECE No. No. No. VALUE No. ADDED TYPE 1 2 3 (N/mm.sup.2) 1 2.5 ADDED WITH 1.27 1.58 0.61 1.15 CALCIUM NITRITE (C × 2.5 WT %) 2 4.36 ADDED WITH 1.07 1.22 1.02 1.10 CALCIUM NITRITE (C × 4.36 WT %) 3 6.2 ADDED WITH 1.99 3.00 1.58 2.19 CALCIUM NITRITE (C × 6.2 WT %)

[0078] It has been confirmed from the compressive strength test shown in Table 4 that the test results were 1.15 N/mm.sup.2 when the calcium nitrite was added in an amount of 2.5% by weight, 1.10 N/mm.sup.2 when added in an amount of 4.36% by weight and 2.19 N/mm.sup.2 when added in an amount of 6.2% by weight, and have proved to be much less than the determination reference value of 30 N/mm.sup.2, so that the calcium nitrite is considered to be not suitable for adding to the cement grout material in the environment of −10° C.

[0079] The results of the PC grout flowability test (Rheology test) were 18.8 seconds when the calcium nitrite was added in an amount of 2.5% by weight, 29.6 seconds when added in an amount of 4.36% by weight and an unmeasurable result when added in an amount of 6.2% by weight, and have proved to be outside the determination reference range in either case. For the calcium nitrite added in an amount of 6.2% by weight, remarkable flowability degradation has been caused to a degree that when scooping up the grout material with a spoon, the scooped grout material has failed to drip from the spoon even when tilted.

Experiment 2

[0080] Next, the relation between the amount of the lithium nitrite to be added based on the cement and the compressive strength was examined in regards to adding of the lithium nitrite having been confirmed from the experiment 1 to be effective. In accordance with the PC grout compressive strength testing method (JSCE-G531), a cylindrical-shaped test piece of ϕ5 cm×10 cm was prepared, and air curing at a temperature of −5° C. was performed for 28 days. The compressive strength test was carried out three times per test piece type to determine the mean value. The same admixture for non-bleeding and highly-viscous high-performance cement grout and grouting mortar as that used in the experiment 1 was applied to the experiment 2.

[0081] A mix proportion of a base added with no lithium nitrite is as shown in Table 5.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 MIX W/C W C ADMIXTURE No. PROPORTION (%) (kg) (kg) (kg) 1 MIX 43% 570 1327 13.3 PROPORTION IN 1 m.sup.3

[0082] The same materials as those used in the experiment 1 were applied to the experiment 2, and the compressive strength test was carried out for 15 types of test pieces as shown in Table 6 in regards to the amount of the lithium nitrite to be added, in addition to the mix proportion of the base.

[0083] Table 6 lists the test results of the compressive strength at the material age of 28 days when the air curing at a temperature of −5° C. was performed. In FIG. 1, the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement and the mean value of the compressive strengths No. 1 to No. 3 are shown in the form of a bar graph.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST REPORTS IN LABORATORY TEST MATERIAL AGE OF 28 DAYS CURING TEMPERATURE OF −5° C. AMOUNT COMPRESSIVE OF STRENGTH LITHIUM (N/mm.sup.2) MEAN NITRITE TEST PIECE No. No. No. VALUE No. ADDED TYPE 1 2 3 (N/mm.sup.2) — STANDARD BASE 3.6 3.2 3.8 3.6 1 0.5 ADDED WITH 4.6 4.7 4.1 4.4 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 0.5 WT %) 2 1 ADDED WITH 4.1 6.5 4.7 5.1 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 1.0 WT %) 3 2 ADDED WITH 16.3 27.6 18.8 20.9 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 2.0 WT %) 4 3 ADDED WITH 45.3 47.4 48.1 46.9 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 3.0 WT %) 5 3.5 ADDED WITH 49.9 49.9 48.9 49.6 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 3.5 WT %) 6 4 ADDED WITH 45.6 44.3 46.1 45.3 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 4.0 WT %) 7 4.5 ADDED WITH 45.8 44.1 44.8 44.9 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 4.5 WT %) 8 5 ADDED WITH 44.6 43.5 43.0 43.7 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 5.0 WT %) 9 6 ADDED WITH 40.9 41.5 40.6 41.0 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 6.0 WT %) 10 7 ADDED WITH 36.9 37.1 37.0 37.0 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 7.0 WT %) 11 8 ADDED WITH 37.1 35.8 34.2 35.7 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 8.0 WT %) 12 9 ADDED WITH 33.6 32.4 33.2 33.1 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 9.0 WT %) 13 10 ADDED WITH 30.8 31.3 31.6 31.2 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 10.0 WT %) 14 11 ADDED WITH 28.5 28.5 29.0 28.7 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 11.0 WT %) 15 12 ADDED WITH 27.0 27.5 27.8 27.4 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 12.0 WT %)

[0084] Referring to Table 6 and FIG. 1, the resultant mean values of the compressive strengths were 4.4 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 0.5% by weight based on the cement, 5.1 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 1.0% by weight based on the cement and 20.9 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 2.0% by weight based on the cement, and have proved to be less than the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2. As a result of visual observation of these test pieces, it has been found that a freezing phenomenon assumed to be caused by freezing of water contained in fresh grout has appeared in the form of ice phases on a test piece surface or cut section, and it can be thus considered that freezing of the water has exerted adverse effect on a hydration reaction.

[0085] On the other hand, the resultant mean value of the compressive strengths for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 3.0% by weight based on the cement was as high as 46.9 N/mm.sup.2 exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2, and the compressive strengths exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 were confirmed up to a test piece case where the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 10.0% by weight based on the cement.

[0086] Afterwards, the resultant mean values of the compressive strengths for test pieces respectively added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 11.0% by weight and 12.0% by weight based on the cement have proved to be less than the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2.

[0087] From the experiment 2, it has been thus found that the lithium nitrite if added in an amount of 3 to 10% by weight based on the cement could ensure the compressive strength exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2, resulting in enabling applications to installation even in the environment of −5° C. without problems.

Experiment 3

[0088] Next, the air curing at a temperature of −10° C. was performed for 28 days to examine the relation between the amount of the lithium nitrite to be added based on the cement and the compressive strength. A cylindrical-shaped test piece of ϕ5 cm×10 cm was prepared for the compressive strength test in accordance with the PC grout compressive strength testing method (JSCE-G531). The compressive strength test was carried out three times per test piece type to determine the mean value. The same admixture for non-bleeding and highly-viscous high-performance cement grout and grouting mortar as that used in the experiments 1 and 2 was applied to the experiment 3.

[0089] Table 7 lists the test results of the compressive strength at the material age of 28 days when the air curing at the temperature of −10° C. was performed. In FIG. 2, the weight ratio of the lithium nitrite to the cement and the mean value of the compressive strengths No. 1 to No. 3 are shown in the form of a bar graph.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST REPORTS IN LABORATORY TEST MATERIAL AGE OF 28 DAYS CURING TEMPERATURE OF −10° C. AMOUNT COMPRESSIVE OF STRENGTH LITHIUM (N/mm.sup.2) MEAN NITRITE TEST PIECE No. No. No. VALUE No. ADDED TYPE 1 2 3 (N/mm.sup.2) — STANDARD BASE 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 1 0.5 ADDED WITH LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 0.5 WT %) 2 1 ADDED WITH LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 1.0 WT %) 3 2 ADDED WITH 1.9 6.8 3.5 4.1 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 2.0 WT %) 4 3 ADDED WITH 8.7 8.6 8.3 8.5 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 3.0 WT %) 5 3.5 ADDED WITH 8.9 9.8 9.2 9.3 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 3.5 WT %) 6 4 ADDED WITH 11.6 10.2 10.6 10.8 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 4.0 WT %) 7 4.5 ADDED WITH 39.1 39.3 39.0 39.1 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 4.5 WT %) 8 5 ADDED WITH 37.2 38.2 37.0 37.5 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 5.0 WT %) 9 6 ADDED WITH 35.2 35.4 34.7 35.1 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 6.0 WT %) 10 7 ADDED WITH 33.2 33.6 33.3 33.4 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 7.0 WT %) 11 8 ADDED WITH 30.9 31.1 31.8 31.2 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 8.0 WT %) 12 9 ADDED WITH 29.4 29.3 29.7 29.5 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 9.0 WT %) 13 10 ADDED WITH 25.1 27.2 25.5 25.9 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 10.0 WT %) 14 11 ADDED WITH 24.6 24.8 24.9 24.8 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 11.0 WT %) 15 12 ADDED WITH 21.1 23.2 23.9 22.7 LITHIUM NITRITE (C × 12.0 WT %)

[0090] Referring to Table 7 and FIG. 2, the resultant mean values of the compressive strengths were 4.1 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 2.0% by weight based on the cement, 8.5 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 3.0% by weight based on the cement, 9.3 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 3.5% by weight based on the cement and 10.8 N/mm.sup.2 for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 4.0% by weight based on the cement, and have proved to be less than the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2.

[0091] It is noted that for test pieces respectively added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 0.5% by weight and 1.0% by weight based on the cement, the compressive strength test has ended in a failure due to the shortage of strength. As a result of visual observation of these test pieces, it has been found that a freezing phenomenon assumed to be caused by freezing of water contained in fresh grout has appeared in the form of ice phases on a test piece surface or cut section, and it can be thus considered that freezing of water has exerted adverse effect on a hydration reaction.

[0092] On the other hand, the resultant mean value of the compressive strengths for a test piece added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 4.5% by weight based on the cement was as high as 39.1 N/mm.sup.2 exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2, and the compressive strengths exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2 were confirmed up to a test piece case where the lithium nitrite was added in an amount of 8.0% by weight based on the cement.

[0093] Afterwards, the resultant mean values of the compressive strengths for test pieces respectively added with the lithium nitrite in an amount of 9.0 to 12.0% by weight based on the cement have proved to be less than the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2.

[0094] From the experiment 3, it has been thus found that the lithium nitrite if added in an amount of 4.5 to 8% by weight based on the cement could ensure the compressive strength exceeding the reference strength of 30 N/mm.sup.2, resulting in enabling applications to installation even in the environment of −10° C. without problems.

[0095] Next will be described experiments 4 and 5 about a rust preventive effect of the cement grout material according to the present invention.

Experiment 4

[0096] For the experiment 4, an accelerated corrosion test was carried out using a test piece prepared by simulating a situation where a PC steel rod is eccentrically placed inside the sheath in which the grout material is to be filled, for the purpose of confirming that the grout material added with the lithium nitrite is effective in inhibiting the corrosion of a steel member in a severely corrosive environment adversely affected by seawater or salty wind.

[0097] A highly viscous grout material was applied as the grout material to be used, and an addition rate of the lithium nitrite was specified to be, by weight, 3%, 6% and 9% for comparison with a case where no lithium nitrite was added.

[0098] Table 8 lists the mix proportion factors of the grout material and concrete used in the experiment 4, together with the experiment conditions and items. A salt content in the concrete was specified to be 12 kg/m.sup.3, and an accelerated corrosion test (in accordance with JCI-SC3 by Japan Concrete Institute) was applied to a testing method.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 EXPERIMENT FACTORS SPECS MIX W/C (%) 43% PROPORTION ADDITION RATE OF 0, 3, 6, 9% OF GROUT LITHIUM NITRITE (C × %) ADMIXTURE FOR HIGHLY-  1% VISCOUS GROUT (C × %) MIX W/C (%) 66% PROPORTION CHLORIDE ION 12 kg/m.sup.3 OF CONCRETE CONTENT (kg/m.sup.3) TARGET SLUMP (cm) 10 ± 2.5 cm TARGET AIR AMOUNT (%) 4.5 ± 1% TESTING METHOD ACCELERATED CORROSION TEST (JCI-SC3)

[0099] A test piece used herein was a simulated test piece that simulates a situation where the grout material is exposed to a chloride ion due to the steel sheath damages caused by corrosion resulting from invasion of the chloride ion through a concrete surface.

[0100] Firstly, as shown in FIG. 3, with a PC steel rod 2 (of ϕ26 mm) eccentrically placed inside a steel sheath 1 (of ϕ45 mm), the grout material added with a specific amount of the lithium nitrite was filled in the steel sheath 1, followed by being subjected to sealed curing in an environment of 20° C. till the material age of 28 days (that is, a step as shown in FIG. 3(a)). Thereafter, the steel sheath 1 was completely removed in order to simulate development of the damages caused by corrosion (that is, a step as shown in FIG. 3(b)).

[0101] Next, sealed curing was performed till the material age of 28 days through a series of processes in the order of insertion into a predetermined position (a cover thickness of 20 mm) inside a mold of ϕ100×200 mm, placing of concrete 4 containing salt, and demolding therefrom at the material age of 2 days, thus providing a resultant object as a test piece for use in the accelerated corrosion test (that is, a step as shown in FIG. 3(c)).

[0102] FIG. 4 shows the outline of the accelerated corrosion test. For the accelerated corrosion test, an alternate drying and wetting process which assumes a wetting period (at a temperature of 70° C. and a relative humidity of 90%) of three days and a drying period (at a temperature of 15° C. and a relative humidity of 65%) of four days to be one drying and wetting cycle was repeated ten cycles, in accordance with a testing method JCI-SC3 “an accelerated corrosion testing method for reinforcing bar steel inside concrete containing salt and a dry-wet cycling method”.

[0103] Measurement of a spontaneous potential of the PC steel rod 2 was performed every time one drying and wetting cycle was terminated. The spontaneous potential of the PC steel rod 2 was measured with a potentiometer 6 in a situation where a reference electrode 5 was installed at a smallest cover thickness (20 mm) position with respect to the PC steel rod 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0104] FIG. 6 shows the relation between the spontaneous potential and the addition rate of the lithium nitrite. The test piece added with no lithium nitrite presents a value as low as −291 mV.sub.VSCSE being the mean value of data obtained at the time when ten drying and wetting cycles were terminated. On the other hand, the test pieces respectively added with the lithium nitrite in the addition rate of 3 to 9% by weight present values of −180 to −153 mV.sub.VSCSE higher by 38 to 48% as compared with the test piece added with no lithium nitrite. From the above results, it has been thus confirmed that the grout material added with the lithium nitrite provides the rust preventive effect in the corrosive environment adversely affected by the chloride ion.

Experiment 5

[0105] For the experiment 5, a rustproof performance confirmation test was carried out based on open-air exposure by injecting the grout material added with the lithium nitrite into a prestressed concrete testing body, for the purpose of confirming a rustproof performance in a general environment.

[0106] FIG. 7 shows the outline of a prestressed concrete injection testing body. A testing body 11 of 600 mm in width, 400 mm in height and 15700 mm in extended length was prepared, wherein a steel sheath tube 12 of ϕ35 mm was placed along the inside of a cross-section of the testing body, and one PC steel strand (IS21.8 mm) was inserted into the steel sheath tube. One ends of the upper and lower steel sheath tubes 12 were connected together through a hose 13 to inject and discharge the grout material through the other ends thereof. A temperature sensor 14 was placed in a state of being embedded in the center of the testing body 11.

[0107] The addition rate of the lithium nitrite was specified to be 5.0% by weight and 9.0% by weight for comparison with a case where no lithium nitrite was added. This confirmation test took place in an outdoor testing site. The testing body was divided into 12 parts to start exposure on the 96-th day after injection of the grout material. A rusting examination for confirming development of the rust in the cross-section by visual observation was conducted in regards to 11 cross-sections on the 56-th day after start of the exposure.

[0108] Table 9 lists the relation between the addition rate of the lithium nitrite and the degree of rusting. The degree of rusting is obtained based on calculation by assuming a rust area in the case of addition of no lithium nitrite to be 1.0.

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 SEATH ADDITION RATE OF LITHIUM NITRITE DEGREE OF No. (WT %) RUSTING 1 0 (NO LITHIUM NITRITE) 1.0 2 9.0 0.44 3 5.0 0.57

[0109] On the assumption that the degree of rusting in the case of addition of no lithium nitrite is 1.0, the resultant degrees of rusting were 0.44 when the lithium nitrite was added in the addition rate of 9.0% by weight and 0.57 when added in the addition rate of 5.0% by weight, and have proved to cause 43 to 56% reduction in the rust area. From the above results, the rust preventive effect obtained by addition of the lithium nitrite could be confirmed even in an environment where no chloride ion is supplied.