Highly dispersed carbon nanotube reinforced cement based materials

Maria S. Konsta-Gdoutos; Zoi S. Metaxa; Surendra P. Shah

doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.015

Highly dispersed carbon nanotube reinforced cement based materials

Maria S. Konsta-Gdoutos^*, Zoi S. Metaxa, Surendra P. Shah

^*Corresponding author for this work

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

860 Scopus citations

Abstract

The remarkable mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) suggest that they are ideal candidates for high performance cementitious composites. The major challenge however, associated with the incorporation of CNTs in cement based materials is poor dispersion. In this study, effective dispersion of different length multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in water was achieved by applying ultrasonic energy and in combination with the use of a surfactant. The effects of ultrasonic energy and surfactant concentration on the dispersion of MWCNTs at an amount of 0.08 wt.% of cement were investigated. It is shown that for proper dispersion the application of ultrasonic energy is absolutely required and for complete dispersion there exists an optimum weight ratio of surfactant to CNTs. For a constant ratio of surfactant to MWCNTs, the effects of MWCNT type (short and long) and concentration on the fracture properties, nanoscale properties and microstructure of nanocomposite materials were also studied. Results suggest that MWCNTs improve the nano- and macromechanical properties of cement paste.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1052-1059
Number of pages	8
Journal	Cement and Concrete Research
Volume	40
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.015
State	Published - Jul 2010

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes
Dispersion
Fiber reinforcement
Mechanical properties
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
General Materials Science

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10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.015

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title = "Highly dispersed carbon nanotube reinforced cement based materials",

abstract = "The remarkable mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) suggest that they are ideal candidates for high performance cementitious composites. The major challenge however, associated with the incorporation of CNTs in cement based materials is poor dispersion. In this study, effective dispersion of different length multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in water was achieved by applying ultrasonic energy and in combination with the use of a surfactant. The effects of ultrasonic energy and surfactant concentration on the dispersion of MWCNTs at an amount of 0.08 wt.% of cement were investigated. It is shown that for proper dispersion the application of ultrasonic energy is absolutely required and for complete dispersion there exists an optimum weight ratio of surfactant to CNTs. For a constant ratio of surfactant to MWCNTs, the effects of MWCNT type (short and long) and concentration on the fracture properties, nanoscale properties and microstructure of nanocomposite materials were also studied. Results suggest that MWCNTs improve the nano- and macromechanical properties of cement paste.",

keywords = "Carbon nanotubes, Dispersion, Fiber reinforcement, Mechanical properties, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)",

author = "Konsta-Gdoutos, {Maria S.} and Metaxa, {Zoi S.} and Shah, {Surendra P.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Infrastructure Technology Institute at Northwestern University under Grant DTRT06-G-0015/M1 . The scanning electron microscopy experiments were carried out in the EPIC facility of NUANCE center at Northwestern University. The nanoindentation experiments were carried out in the NIFTI facility of NUANCE center at Northwestern University with the help of Dr. Paramita Mondal whose advice and suggestions are gratefully acknowledged.",

year = "2010",

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AU - Konsta-Gdoutos, Maria S.

AU - Metaxa, Zoi S.

AU - Shah, Surendra P.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Infrastructure Technology Institute at Northwestern University under Grant DTRT06-G-0015/M1 . The scanning electron microscopy experiments were carried out in the EPIC facility of NUANCE center at Northwestern University. The nanoindentation experiments were carried out in the NIFTI facility of NUANCE center at Northwestern University with the help of Dr. Paramita Mondal whose advice and suggestions are gratefully acknowledged.

PY - 2010/7

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N2 - The remarkable mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) suggest that they are ideal candidates for high performance cementitious composites. The major challenge however, associated with the incorporation of CNTs in cement based materials is poor dispersion. In this study, effective dispersion of different length multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in water was achieved by applying ultrasonic energy and in combination with the use of a surfactant. The effects of ultrasonic energy and surfactant concentration on the dispersion of MWCNTs at an amount of 0.08 wt.% of cement were investigated. It is shown that for proper dispersion the application of ultrasonic energy is absolutely required and for complete dispersion there exists an optimum weight ratio of surfactant to CNTs. For a constant ratio of surfactant to MWCNTs, the effects of MWCNT type (short and long) and concentration on the fracture properties, nanoscale properties and microstructure of nanocomposite materials were also studied. Results suggest that MWCNTs improve the nano- and macromechanical properties of cement paste.

AB - The remarkable mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) suggest that they are ideal candidates for high performance cementitious composites. The major challenge however, associated with the incorporation of CNTs in cement based materials is poor dispersion. In this study, effective dispersion of different length multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in water was achieved by applying ultrasonic energy and in combination with the use of a surfactant. The effects of ultrasonic energy and surfactant concentration on the dispersion of MWCNTs at an amount of 0.08 wt.% of cement were investigated. It is shown that for proper dispersion the application of ultrasonic energy is absolutely required and for complete dispersion there exists an optimum weight ratio of surfactant to CNTs. For a constant ratio of surfactant to MWCNTs, the effects of MWCNT type (short and long) and concentration on the fracture properties, nanoscale properties and microstructure of nanocomposite materials were also studied. Results suggest that MWCNTs improve the nano- and macromechanical properties of cement paste.

KW - Carbon nanotubes

KW - Dispersion

KW - Fiber reinforcement

KW - Mechanical properties

KW - Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

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Highly dispersed carbon nanotube reinforced cement based materials

Abstract

Keywords

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