A novel cement-based hybrid material

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are known to possess exceptional tensile strength, elastic modulus and electrical and thermal conductivity. They are promising candidates for the next-generation high-performance structural and multi-functional composite materials. However, one of the largest obstacles to creating strong, electrically or thermally conductive CNT/CNF composites is the difficulty of getting a good dispersion of the carbon nanomaterials in a matrix. Typically, time-consuming steps of purification and functionalization of the carbon nanomaterial are required. We propose a new approach to grow CNTs/CNFs directly on the surface of matrix particles. As the matrix we selected cement, the most important construction material. We synthesized in a simple one-step process a novel cement hybrid material (CHM), wherein CNTs and CNFs are attached to the cement particles. The CHM has been proven to increase 2 times the compressive strength and 40 times the electrical conductivity of the hardened paste, i.e. concrete without sand.Peer reviewe

Effects of curing conditions on shrinkage of alkali-activated high-MgO Swedish slag concrete

This study aimed to determine the effects of curing regime on shrinkage of alkali-activated concretes produced from a Swedish high-MgO blast furnace slag. Sodium carbonate (SC), sodium silicate (SS), and their combination were used as alkali activators. The studied curing procedure included heat-treatment, no heat-treatment, sealed and non-sealed conditions. The heat curing increased the compressive strengths of the concretes activated with SS and with the combination of SS and SC. Sealed-curing applied for a period of 1 month reduced the measured drying shrinkage by up to 50% for all studied heat-treated samples. Conversely, the same curing procedure significantly increased the development of the drying shrinkage once the seal was removed after 28 days of curing in the case of the SC-activated concretes non-heat treated. Higher degree of reaction/hydration reached by the binders in these concretes was indicated as the main factor. All of the concretes studied had showed a significant microcracking of the binder matrix, with the most extensive cracking observed in the sealed lab-cured mixes. The heat-cured mixes activated with SS and combination of SC and SS showed the most homogenous microstructure and low extensive micro cracking comparing with lab-cured ones

Creep and long-term properties of alkali-activated Swedish-slag concrete

The construction of the future is moving in the direction of environmentally friendly materials and the use of various types of industrial byproducts and wastes. The use of blast furnace slag (BFS) for the production of concrete is one of those alternatives. In this study, pastes and concretes based on high-MgO BFS were alkali activated with 10% by weight sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, and a combination of both. Heat treatment and laboratory curing were applied. The results showed that heat treatment was effective at reducing the drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag concretes and promoting high early strength. However, the sodium carbonate–activated slag concrete specimens showed a reduction in compressive strength at later ages. All concrete specimens tested exhibited high drying shrinkage; the highest values were for sodium silicate–activated concretes and the lowest were for sodium carbonate–activated concretes. All concretes tested showed very large creep, which was partly related to the small maximum aggregate size (8 mm) and the effects of carbonation. The carbonation depth after 12–24  months was significantly smaller for the heat-treated specimens and for concrete activated with sodium silicate. The carbonation process resulted in a more porous binder matrix, leading to long-term strength loss and increased creep, especially for sodium silicate–activated mixes

Alkali activation of a high MgO GGBS – fresh and hardened properties

In this study, concretes and pastes were produced from a high magnesium oxide (MgO) ground granulated blast furnace slag (magnesium oxide content 16·1 wt%) by alkali activation with various amounts and combinations of sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. Sodium carbonate activators tended to reduce slump compared to sodium silicate at the same dose, and, in contrast to the literature for many blast furnace slags with more moderate magnesium oxide, to shorten the initial and final setting times in comparison with concretes activated by sodium silicate for dosages less than 10 wt%. Higher heat curing temperatures and the use of larger dosages of alkali activators resulted in higher early-age compressive cube strength values. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 7 and 28 d old pastes activated with sodium carbonates revealed formation of gaylussite, calcite, nahcolite and calcium-aluminium-silicate-hydrate (C–A–S–H) gel. Curing at 20°C appeared to promote dissolution of gaylussite and calcite, while heat curing promoted their replacement with C–A–S–H, which also resulted in higher ultimate cube compressive strength values. Conversely, mixes activated with sodium silicate contained less crystalline phases and more disordered gel, which strengthened the binder matrix

Assessing the chemical involvement of limestone powder in sodium carbonate activated slag

This study aims to investigate the effect of limestone powder (LP) on the reaction of sodium carbonate activated slag. The results show that the incorporated LP up to 30% improves the strength development, especially at advanced curing ages. A slightly accelerated reaction is observed for samples containing low amount of LP (≤5%), while mixture with 10% LP shows the optimized results with respect to the heat release and strength development. Chemical effect of incorporating LP is observed at high replacement levels (≥15%), indicated by the formation of a new phase, natron (Na2CO3·10H2O). Besides, relatively high contents of hydrotalcite-like phases are generated when increasing the dosage of limestone powder. The chemical changes, including the volume changes of generating natron and the transformation of natron to calcite, is potentially responsible for the enhanced mechanical properties

The effect of the heat-treatment regime on the properties of reactive powder concrete

The influence of the curing regime on the mechanical properties and microstructure of ultra-high-strength mortar was studied. Nine different curing procedures were applied in which the start and duration of the heat treatment were varied. The studied mortars had a water-to-binder ratio of 0·17 and additions of amorphous silica fume and fine quartz filler. The microstructure and microchemistry were investigated by electron scanning microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results revealed that longer heating times increased the degree of hydration, refined the microstructure and resulted in higher ultimate compressive strength, Very late and very early application of the heat treatment caused a lower degree of hydration and a smaller long-term increase of compressive strength. The scanning electron microscopy investigation revealed the formation of one hydration rim around anhydrous cement particles and the presence of a hollow shell in all investigated specimens. © 2007 Thomas Telford Ltd.</p

Surface decoration of carbon nanotubes and mechanical properties of cement/carbon nanotube composites

The present study investigated the effects of the method of surface decoration on the wetability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the mechanical properties of the cement paste incorporating these dispersions. The results showed that stable and homogenous dispersions of MWCNTs in water can be obtained by using surface functionalisation combined with decoration using polyacrylic acid polymers. The cement paste specimens incorporating these dispersions revealed good workability and an increase in the compressive strength of nearly 50% even with only a small addition of the MWCNTs, namely 0-045-0-15% of the cement weight. These results indicate the existence of chemical bonds between the OH groups of the functionalised MWCNTs and probably the C-S-H phase of the cement matrix, which enhanced the transfer of stresses. A second method that was studied included decoration of MWCNTs with polyacrylic acid polymers and gum Arabic. These dispersions appeared to be homogeneous only for approximately 2 h after which a progressive sedimentation occurred. Good workability was found for the cement pastes produced with all of the dispersions; the only significant difference being the slower hydration of the cement incorporating gum Arabic. The mechanical properties of the cement pastes incorporating MWCNTs treated with polyacrylic polymers were unchanged.</p

Interaction of Magnesia with Limestone-Metakaolin-Calcium Hydroxide Ternary Alkali-Activated Systems

The effect of magnesia on ternary systems composed of limestone, metakaolin and calcium hydroxide, alkali activated with sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium sulphate was studied by determination of the compressive strength, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pastes activated with sodium silicate and sodium sulphate showed strength regression caused by a formation of an unstable prone to cracking geopolymer gel. The presence of magnesia in sodium hydroxide-activated system hindered this trend by promoting a formation of more stable crystalline phases intermixed with brucide. In general, magnesia densified the binder matrix by promoting a formation of amorphous phases while sodium hydroxide produced the most porous microstructure containing high amount of crystalline phases