Microdureza aplicada ao estudo do dano em revestimentos compósitos para superfícies metálicas

Abstract

Oil well structures are built by placing a steel casing and by cementing the space (annulus) between the casing and rock formations throughout the geological layers of wellbores. The structural integrity of these systems resides on the cementing operation, which is designed to offer structural support as well as corrosion protection of the casing. It also promotes zonal isolation among rock formations throughout the wellbore, which not only helps to avoid losses in production, but also reduces potential environmental damage due to leakage of contaminated fluids. In order to achieve these objectives, a hydraulic seal between the casing and the cement and between the cement and the rock formations must be ensured, so that fluid channels in the cement sheath can be prevented. Although oil and gas companies have always been aspiring for perfect zonal isolation, the scope of existing zonal-isolation problems is enormous. Hence, a great number of researchers have been motivated to study and predict lost of zonal isolation, helping to reduce the magnitude of such complex problem. Most research focus on the improvement of the cement properties whereas least effort is given to interface related aspects. This is mostly given to the fact that such important zone is difficult to assess. Such difficulties are mainly associated to inherent anisotropies of Portland cement based materials. Interface related aspects of the cement hydration are strongly affected by the local chemistry of the components of the matrix. The effect of such complex microstructure on the engineering parameters must be carefully examined, so that evaluation of the structure integrity can be properly made via Non Destructive Testings. The aim of this work is to correlate the mechanical properties (destructive and non-destructive) with the microhardness of cement paste at early ages. The samples were cast using Early Strength Development Portland cement and three water to binder ratio (0.33, 0.44 and 0.55 by mass). Also, two sets of cement pastes were mixed with and without a ground redbrick waste pozzolan replacing cement (20% by mass). The test ages were 1, 3 and 7 days. The micro features of the early hydrated cement pastes were assessed by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (Backscattered Electron Imaging Mode) and Vickers Microhardness. The data shows that the presence of the pozzolan affects the distribution of hydrated cement grains and the homogeneity of the cement matrix, yielding to different microfeatures, reflecting on the mechanical properties. The local chemistry prevails over the average properties of the cement paste, especially at the contact between steel and cement.