Effects of nanosilica application in Portland cement concrete

Abstract

For development of the potential of nanosilica application in Portland cement concrete the effect in compressive strength R_com increase was studied in the age from 1 to 360 d. Sol of hydrothermal nanosilica (HNS) solution produced by technology developed was used with SiO₂ particles Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 500 m²/g. Concretes compositions were tested with liquid/binder ratio 0.5 and SiO₂ doses of cement replacement 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt.%. Modification of concrete with HNS sol provided a significant increase in compressive strength R_com up to 86.4% (14.8%–43.9% at the age of 360 d) and high values of efficiency coefficient k_ес 19.5–60.9 at the age of 28 d calculated using the relative increase of R_com. Increase in compressive strength is characterized by an early gain in R_com at the age of 1–7 d: the ratios R_{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}}^{1,7}/R_{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}}^{28} and R_{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}}^{28}/R_{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{m}}^{360} are higher in modified concrete. The obtained results can be used to model the hardening and predict the strength of modified concrete at the age of 2, 4, and 10 y. Results of the thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and water absorption methods provided explanations of pozzolanic reaction effects on compressive strength, water impermeability, abrasion and frost resistance, impact viscosity and durability were discussed. The dependence of k_ec coefficient on SiO₂ dose and concrete’s age was analyzed. Using the coefficient k_ec for different doses of SiO₂ at the age of 28 d, the corresponding clinker’s savings coefficient (23.4%–37.6%) and reduction of CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere during the production of Portland cement were calculated. Economic evaluations of the efficiency of using HNS in Portland cement concrete were made in comparison with different materials: commercial nanosilicas and pozzolans such as condensed silica fume, metakaolin, fly ash; metal oxides TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, ZrO₂ and multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanopowders.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

HNS / concrete / compressive strength increase / pozzolanic reaction / durability / economic efficiency

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