RESUMO O ataque por sulfatos de origem interna é resultante da reação química entre os íons Fe2+ e SO4 2-, provenientes da oxidação de agregados sulfetados, e os compostos da pasta cimentícia, e tende a promover a degradação do concreto devido formação de produtos expansivos que geram fissuração e desagregação do material. Neste trabalho, a morfologia da pirita, presente em alguns tipos de agregado, foi avaliada. O mineral foi utilizado em substituição parcial à areia (10%, em massa) na dosagem de argamassas, para estudo das modificações microestruturais e da variação dimensional linear sob envelhecimento natural durante 42 dias. A caracterização microestrutural foi executada em equipamento FEG/SEM com sonda analítica de EDS. Verificou-se, na superfície da pirita oxidada, a formação de óxidos de ferro, os quais afetaram a interface entre a pasta de cimento e o agregado nos materiais produzidos com a pirita. Quanto a variação dimensional, a argamassa apresentou apenas contrações durante o período de estudo. Verificou-se a ocorrência de fissuração e a predominância na formação de cristais aciculares de etringita aos 42 dias enquanto aos 90 dias a presença de gipsita predomina. Óxidos de ferro oriundos da oxidação da pirita são evidentes nas argamassas aos 90 dias.

ABSTRACT The internal sulfates attack (ISA) is resultant of the chemical reaction between the ions Fe2+ and SO4 2-, by products of sulfide aggregates oxidation, and the composites of the cement paste. These actions promote the degradation of concrete due to the formation of expansive products that generates cracking and dissolution of the material. In this study, the morphology of the pyrite, present in some kinds of aggregate, was evaluated. In parallel, the mineral was utilized in partial replacement for sand (10%, in mass) in mortar dosage, for study of microstructural modifications and linear dimensional variation under natural aging during 42 days. The microstructural characterization was executed in a FEG/SEM equipment with EDS analytical probe. On the surface of the oxidized pyrite were formed iron oxides, which affected the interface between the cement paste and the aggregate in the produced materials with the pyrite. As the dimensional variation, the mortar presented only contractions during the period of study. It was verified the occurrence of cracking and the predominance of ettringite acicular crystals formation at 42 days, while at 90 days the presence of gypsum predominates. Iron oxides from the oxidation of the pyrite were evident in mortars at 90 days.

In this study, the cold plasma technique was used to produce nanometric titanium films with hydrophobic and anti-fouling properties. The films where deposited on porcelain electrical insulators surfaces to minimize the effects of leakage current. The magnetron sputtering technique was used with a target of pure titanium sheet, and argon as the ionization gas. The deposited films present an average thickness of 58 to 350 nm. After coating the insulators, the assays performed indicated a greater degree of hydrophobicity and maintenance of leakage current after exposure to salt spray. Lower leakage current values were observed in both natural and saline environments compared with the uncoated device.