Rheological Properties and Structural Build-Up of Cement Based Materials with Addition of Nanoparticles: A Review

Qiuchao Li, Yingfang Fan*, Surendra P. Shah

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanoparticles improve the mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials. However, owing to the high surface energy and specific surface areas of nanoparticles, the packing characteristic of cementitious particles will be affected. With the action of the electrostatic attraction and Van der Waals force, the cementitious particles are agglomerated into flocculation structures, and the free water is entrapped. Furthermore, as the water consumption of cement-based materials increases, the flowability gets worse, which is thought to be one of the reasons limiting its application in practical engineering. In addition, nanoparticles increase the viscosity and thixotropy of fresh cement-based materials and provide more nucleation sites in cement paste, accelerating the cement hydration process in early hydration. In this paper, the research progress on the rheological properties and structural build-up of cement-based materials with the addition of nanoparticles was reviewed. The applicability of rheological test methods and rheological models was summarized. The variation of rheological parameters of fresh cement-based materials affected by nanoparticles species, contents, dispersion method, superplasticizer, etc., were discussed. Based on the packing density, water film thickness, and flocculation structures, the action mechanism of nanoparticles on the rheological properties of cement-based materials was analyzed. Further research topics on the rheology and structural build-up of nano-modified cement-based materials are suggested as well.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2219
JournalBuildings
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

Funding

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51578099), to which the authors are very grateful.

Keywords

  • action mechanism
  • cement-based materials
  • nanoparticles
  • rheology
  • structural build-up

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Architecture
  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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