Quantitative mineralogical analysis of clay-containing materials using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy with PLS method

Enhancing the properties of swelling soils with lime, fly ash, and expanded polystyrene -A review

This paper discusses efforts made by past researchers to steady the expansive (problematic) soils using mechanical and chemical techniques - specifically with EPS beads, lime and fly ash. Administering swelling of problematic soils is critical for civil engineers to prevent structural distress. This paper summarizes studies on reduction of swelling potential using EPS, lime and fly ash individually. Chemical stabilization with lime and fly ash are conventional methods for expansive soil stabilization, with known merits and demerits. This paper explores the suitability of different materials under various conditions and stabilization mechanisms, including cation exchange, flocculation, and pozzolanic reactions. The degree of stabilization is influenced by various factors such as the type and amount of additives, soil mineralogy, curing temperature, moisture content during molding, and the presence of nano-silica, organic matter, and sulfates. Additionally, expanded polystyrene (EPS) improves structural integrity by compressing when surrounded clay swells, reducing overall swelling. Thus, EPS addresses limitations of chemicals by mechanical means. Combining EPS, lime and fly ash creates a customized system promoting efficient, long-lasting, cost-effective and eco-friendly soil stabilization. Chemicals address EPS limitations like poor stabilization. This paper benefits civil engineers seeking to control expansive soil swelling and prevent structural distress. It indicates potential of an EPS-lime-fly ash system and concludes by identifying research gaps for further work on such combinatorial stabilizer systems.

Recent advances and applications to cultural heritage using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging

Scientific investigation of cultural heritage objects plays a vital role in a responsible modern approach to conservation and archaeology. Recent advances in spectroscopy, such as the development of Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging, have opened up a window of opportunities for characterisation of materials in artefacts and collections from museums. This review summarises some of the recent advances and applications of these ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analytical techniques in the area of cultural heritage studies, including examples of cross-sections of oil paintings, paper, textiles, plastic objects, potteries, glasses and mineral artefacts. Two of the major advantages of ATR mode measurements are minimal or no requirements for sample preparation and its provision for high lateral spatial resolution. In addition to conventional single point detection, two-dimensional mapping and imaging is especially beneficial for chemical visualisation of multi-layered structure cultural objects. This review also explores the implications of these advantages as well as some limitations and provides a brief outlook for the possible future developments in this area.