TY - JOUR
T1 - Multi-scale mechanical and fracture characteristics and early-age strain capacity of high performance carbon nanotube/cement nanocomposites
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 nanoindentation experiments were carried out in the NIFTI facility of NUANCE center at Northwestern University.
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Due to their exceptional mechanical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be one of the most promising reinforcing materials for the next generation of high-performance nanocomposites. In this study, the reinforcing effect of highly dispersed multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in cement paste matrix has been investigated. The MWCNTs were effectively dispersed in the mixing water by using a simple, one step method utilizing ultrasonic energy and a commercially available surfactant. A detailed study on the effects of MWCNTs concentration and aspect ratio was conducted. The excellent reinforcing capabilities of the MWCNTs are demonstrated by the enhanced fracture resistance properties of the cementitious matrix. Additionally, nanoindentation results suggest that the use of MWCNTs can increase the amount of high stiffness C-S-H and decrease the porosity. Besides the benefits of the reinforcing effect, autogenous shrinkage test results indicate that MWCNTs can also have a beneficial effect on the early strain capacity of the cementitious matrix, improving this way the early age and long term durability of the cementitious nanocomposites.
AB - Due to their exceptional mechanical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be one of the most promising reinforcing materials for the next generation of high-performance nanocomposites. In this study, the reinforcing effect of highly dispersed multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in cement paste matrix has been investigated. The MWCNTs were effectively dispersed in the mixing water by using a simple, one step method utilizing ultrasonic energy and a commercially available surfactant. A detailed study on the effects of MWCNTs concentration and aspect ratio was conducted. The excellent reinforcing capabilities of the MWCNTs are demonstrated by the enhanced fracture resistance properties of the cementitious matrix. Additionally, nanoindentation results suggest that the use of MWCNTs can increase the amount of high stiffness C-S-H and decrease the porosity. Besides the benefits of the reinforcing effect, autogenous shrinkage test results indicate that MWCNTs can also have a beneficial effect on the early strain capacity of the cementitious matrix, improving this way the early age and long term durability of the cementitious nanocomposites.
KW - Autogenous shrinkage
KW - Carbon nanotubes
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Nano-fiber reinforcement
KW - Nanoindentation
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.10.007
DO - 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.10.007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:72949118644
SN - 0958-9465
VL - 32
SP - 110
EP - 115
JO - Cement and Concrete Composites
JF - Cement and Concrete Composites
IS - 2
ER -