Brief 

Researchers in the UAE and India analyzed the effect of a series of nanoparticles, including carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide, on concrete water permeability and chloride infiltration in a study published in Materials Today, and found the use of nanomaterials in concrete was effective in reducing water absorption and chloride penetration. Small quantities of nanosilica decreased water absorption by more than half and cut chloride migration by one-quarter, while other nanoparticles had similar effects.

 

Insight

In a study published in the journal Materials Today, a short analysis was conducted on the impact of nano-SiO2, nano-Al2O3, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, nano-TiO2, nano-Fe2O3, nano-clay/metakaolin, and nano-CaCO3 usage on the water permeability and chloride infiltration of cement concrete.

The possibility of employing nanomaterials in cement concrete with the requisite construction material qualities was discovered.

 

Cement Concrete and its Uses

Cement concrete is manufactured at a pace of 25-30 billion tons per year, accounting for 8-9 percent of total human greenhouse gas emissions.

The most expensive component of concrete is the binder substance ‘cement.’ Every year, around 5-6 billion tons of cement are generated worldwide, equating to a per capita usage of one ton of cement.

Reduced usage of Portland cement may successfully assist in greenhouse gas emission reductions. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-SiO2 (nS), nano-Al2O3 (NA), graphene oxide (GO), nano-TiO2 (NT), nano clay (NC), nano-ZnO2 (NZ), and nano-Fe2O3 (NF) may all be used to improve the mechanical and stability qualities of concrete.

 

Properties of Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials are particles with dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nm. The integration of nanoparticles in cement concrete composites has recently received much interest.

Using nanoparticles as a partial replacement for binders or as a filler material in cement concrete affects the rheological behaviour and morphology at the nanoscale, considerably increasing the mechanical and durability properties of cementitious materials.

 

Effectiveness of Nano SiO2 (nS)

Nano-SiO2 showed to be particularly effective in minimizing concrete water absorption. It was lowered by 58 percent with two percent nano SiO2 and 36.84 percent with three percent nano-SiO2.

 

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