| publication name | performance of silica-Nano-particles on physicochemical and microscopic characteristics of blended and composite cement |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mohamed H., M.H. Helmy, S. Awad, N.S. Ibrahim |
| year | 2020 |
| keywords | Silica-nano-particles (SNP); Microscopic characteristics; Gel/space ratio; Blended, composite cement |
| journal | Ceramics-Silikáty |
| volume | 64 |
| issue | 3 |
| pages | 320-337 |
| publisher | USMH |
| Local/International | International |
| Paper Link | Not Available |
| Full paper | download |
| Supplementary materials | Not Available |
Abstract
The impact of silica-nano-particles (SNP) onto the physicochemical and microscopic characteristics of composite-cements containing 40 - 60 mass % fly-ash (FA), and/or granulated-slag (GS) were studied. The physico-mechanical and microscopiccharacteristics of the composite cement-pastes were enhanced by the replacement of 4 mass% SNP, especially the earlystrength enhancement. The behaviour of the hydration-kinetics was studied from one day up to 360 days. The consistency (W/C) ratio, setting times (STs), compressive strength (CS), total porosity, (TP), bulk density (BD), chemically combined water (Wn), free lime (FL) and gel/space ratio (X) were determined. The behaviour of SNP was proven by XRD, DTA, and SEM techniques. The 4 mass % SNP improves the characteristics and microscopic hydration behaviour of the inspected blended and composite cements matrices in the existence of FA and GS. SNP have a positive effect on the behaviour of composite cement pastes, it diminished the setting times and improved the compressive strength and gel/space ratio. The SEM micrographs showed the formation of a denser and finer structure of a CSH hydrated gel with a marked reduction in the total porosity of the hardened-cement paste to form a nano-crystalline close textured structure, which is answerable for the strength properties. It was recommended that the composite cement containing 36 mass % OPC (ordinary Portland cement) + 40 mass % FA + 40 mass % GS + 4 mass % SNP, an E4 mix, which is the suitable optimum mix composition, showed a dense compact structure mainly-composed of a nano-crystalline close-textured-matrix with a remarkable decrease in the total porosity of the hardened blended and composite cement matrices having a higher compressive strength.