Abstract
Previous investigations concerning neutron emission measurements highlighted piezonuclear fission reactions during mechanical tests on iron-rich materials. Based on our experimental evidences, iron can be considered one of the most convenient elements as regards fission into aluminium or into magnesium and silicon. In the present investigation, we apply the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in order to provide experimental evidence of elemental content variations in mortar specimens subjected to compression tests up to crushing failure. To emphasize such a phenomenon, the specimens were highly enriched with iron oxides. Twenty-four chemical elements, including iron, aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, were quantified before and after the mechanical tests by means of chemical and INAA analyses. Our intention was mainly that of confirming low energy nuclear reactions involving fission of iron into aluminum. To this purpose, the concentrations of aluminum before and after the compression tests of the mortar specimens are presented and discussed.
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Acknowledgements
The Authors are grateful to Prof. S. L. Pagliolico from the Politecnico di Torino for the suggestions about the suitable composition of the cementitious mortar specimens enriched with iron oxide. The Authors express their gratitude also to Dr F. Canonico of Buzzi Unicem factory for taking care of manufacturing the mortar specimens.
They also wish to thank Dr L. Bergamaschi and Dr L. Giordani from the National Research Institute of Metrology (INRIM) for their assistance with the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis during the period 2009–2011.
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Carpinteri, A., Borla, O., Lacidogna, G. (2015). Elemental Content Variations in Crushed Mortar Specimens Measured by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). In: Carpinteri, A., Lacidogna, G., Manuello, A. (eds) Acoustic, Electromagnetic, Neutron Emissions from Fracture and Earthquakes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16955-2_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16955-2_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16954-5
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