Workability and Mechanical Performances of Cement Paste with Nano-TiO₂

Abstract

This article investigated the factors and mechanisms that affected the workability and mechanical properties of cement paste incorporating nano-TiO₂. The findings indicated that, for nano-TiO₂ aqueous solution concentrations of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%, the optimal dispersion effect was achieved with an ultrasonic dispersion time of 20 minutes. Specifically, at a 6% nano-TiO₂ content, both the workability and mechanical performance of the cement paste were enhanced. Furthermore, while nano-TiO₂ did not alter the types of hydration products present in the cement paste, it did increase the amount of C-S-H gels. This enhancement was attributed to a higher number of nucleation sites for hydration products, which promoted hydration and reduced the porosity of the cement paste.

Keywords

cement paste / nano-TiO₂ / workability performance / mechanical performance / microscopic analysis

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