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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 22941

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Dr. Maciej Szeląg

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Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lublin University of Technology, 38D Nadbystrzycka Street, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Interests: civil engineering; materials engineering; cement; concrete technology; image analysis; nanotechnology; nanomaterials; fibers; elevated temperature; mechanical properties; physical properties; structure of materials; fractals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, technological progress has meant that the possibilities of modifying materials on the macro- and micro-levels are slowly being exhausted. To further improve the properties and durability of cement composite materials, the structure is modified at the nano-level. Nanotechnology and nano-modifications are a dynamically developing branch not only in concrete technology, but also for virtually all materials used in the construction industry and more. Nano-modifications of cement composite materials lead to several benefits, e.g., increased mechanical strength, fracture toughness, resistance to the effects of low and high temperatures, increased tightness and thus resistance to chemical corrosion, etc. Unfortunately, cement material nanotechnology also brings a series of challenges and problems that are not yet fully recognized. Such challenges include, for example, the even dispersion of the nano-additive in the volume of the cement composite material, which has a key impact on the final properties. Therefore, collecting knowledge in this field seems perfectly appropriate.

The present Special Issue on “Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials” aims to publish original research papers, which contribute to knowledge on any aspect related to nanotechnology for cement composite materials. Critical reviews are also welcome.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

Nanomaterials for cement composite materials (e.g., nano-cement, nano-SiO₂, nano-Fe₂O₃, nano-TiO₂, nano-Al₂O₃, nano-CaCO₃, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphite nanofibers, recycled nanofibers, natural nanofibers, and any other types of reactive and unreactive nanoparticles and nanofibers);
Durability of nano-modified cement composite materials (e.g., mechanical and physical properties, resistance to chemical corrosion, resistance to elevated temperature, freeze/thaw, alkali-silica reaction, biodegradation, etc.);
Methods for increasing the durability of nano-modified cement composite materials;
New testing methods related to nanotechnology;
Hydration and microstructural formation of cement composite materials with nano-modifications;
New trends and design of new nano-modified cement composite materials;
Life cycle assessment.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue.

Dr. Maciej Szeląg
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Cement composite materials
Nanotechnology
Nanoparticles
Nanofibers
Durability
Nano-modifications
Microstructure
Hydration
Characterization methods

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waste Foundry Sand in Concrete Production Instead of Natural River Sand: A Review

by Jawad Ahmad, Zhiguang Zhou, Rebeca Martínez-García, Nikolai Ivanovich Vatin, Jesús de-Prado-Gil and Mohammed A. El-Shorbagy

Materials 2022, 15(7), 2365; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072365 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3565

Abstract

The by-product of the foundry industry is waste foundry sand (WFS). The use of WFS in building materials will safeguard the ecosystem and environmental assets while also durable construction. The use of industrial waste in concrete offsets a shortage of environmental sources, solves the waste dumping trouble and provides another method of protecting the environment. Several researchers have investigated the suitability of WFS in concrete production instead of natural river sand in the last few decades to discover a way out of the trouble of WFS in the foundry region and accomplish its recycling in concrete production. However, a lack of knowledge about the progress of WFS in concrete production is observed and compressive review is required. The current paper examines several properties, such as the physical and chemical composition of WFS, fresh properties, mechanical and durability performance of concrete with partially substituting WFS. The findings from various studies show that replacing WFS up to 30% enhanced the durability and mechanical strength of concrete to some extent, but at the same time reduced the workability of fresh concrete as the replacement level of WFS increased. In addition, this review recommended pozzolanic material or fibre reinforcement in combination with WFS for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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23 pages, 5230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Steel Fibers (SF) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) on Recycled Aggregate Concrete

by Jawad Ahmad, Rebeca Martínez-García, Maciej Szelag, Jesús de-Prado-Gil, Riadh Marzouki, Muwaffaq Alqurashi and Enas E. Hussein

Materials 2021, 14(24), 7497; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247497 - 7 Dec 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3230

Abstract

Recycled aggregate is a good option to be used in concrete production as a coarse aggregate that results in environmental benefits as well as sustainable development. However, recycled aggregate causes a reduction in the mechanical and durability performance of concrete. On the other hand, the removal of industrial waste would be considerably decreased if it could be incorporated into concrete production. One of these possibilities is the substitution of the cement by slag, which enhances the concrete poor properties of recycled aggregate concrete as well as provides a decrease in cement consumption, reducing carbon dioxide production, while resolving a waste management challenge. Furthermore, steel fiber was also added to enhance the tensile capacity of recycled aggregate concrete. The main goal of this study was to investigate the characteristics of concrete using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as a binding material on recycled aggregate fibers reinforced concrete (RAFRC). Mechanical performance was assessed through compressive strength and split tensile strength, while durability aspects were studied through water absorption, acid resistance, and dry shrinkage. The results detected from the different experiments depict that, at an optimum dose (40% RCA, 20%GGBS, and 2.0%), compressive and split tensile strength were 39% and 120% more than the reference concrete, respectively. Furthermore, acid resistance at the optimum dose was 36% more than the reference concrete. Furthermore, decreased water absorption and dry shrinkage cracks were observed with the substitution of GGBS into RAFRC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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27 pages, 10080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Mechanical and Permeability Characteristics of Microfiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete with Different Potential Waste Mineral Admixtures

by Rayed Alyousef, Babar Ali, Ahmed Mohammed, Rawaz Kurda, Hisham Alabduljabbar and Sobia Riaz

Materials 2021, 14(20), 5933; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14205933 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 2687

Abstract

Plain recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) struggles with issues of inferior mechanical strength and durability compared to equivalent natural aggregate concrete (NAC). The durability issues of RAC can be resolved by using mineral admixtures. In addition, the tensile strength deficiency of RAC can be supplemented with fiber reinforcement. In this study, the performance of RAC was evaluated with individual and combined incorporation of microfibers (i.e., glass fibers) and various potential waste mineral admixtures (steel slag, coal fly ash (class F), rice husk ash, and microsilica). The performance of RAC mixtures with fibers and minerals was appraised based on the results of mechanical and permeability-related durability properties. The results showed that generally, all mineral admixtures improved the efficiency of the microfibers in enhancing the mechanical performance of RAC. Notably, synergistic effects were observed in the splitting tensile and flexural strength of RAC due to the combined action of mineral admixtures and fibers. Microsilica and rice husk ash showed superior performance compared to other minerals in the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced RAC, whereas slag and fly ash incorporation showed superior performance compared to silica fume and husk ash in the workability and chloride penetration resistance of RAC. The combined incorporation of microsilica and glass fibers can produce RAC that is notably stronger and more durable than conventional NAC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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18 pages, 1849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Prediction of Mechanical Properties of CNT/CNF Reinforced Concrete

by Sofija Kekez and Jan Kubica

Materials 2021, 14(19), 5637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195637 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2081

Abstract

Prominence of concrete is characterized by its high mechanical properties and durability, combined with multifunctionality and aesthetic appeal. Development of alternative eco-friendly or multipurpose materials has conditioned improvements in concrete mix design to optimize concrete production speed and price, as well as carbon footprint. Artificial neural networks represent a new and efficient tool in achieving optimal concrete mixtures according to its intended function. This paper addresses concrete mix design and the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for self-sensing concrete. The authors review concrete mix design methods and the development of ANNs for prediction of properties for various types of concrete. Furthermore, the authors present developments and applications of ANNs for prediction of compressive strength and flexural strength of carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibers (CNT/CNF) reinforced concrete using experimental results for the learning process. The goal is to bring the ANN approach closer to a variety of concrete researchers and possibly propose the implementation of ANNs in the civil engineering practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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18 pages, 4103 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Influence of TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Resistance of Cementitious Composite Materials to the Action of Fungal Species

by Andreea Hegyi, Elvira Grebenişan, Adrian-Victor Lăzărescu, Vlad Stoian and Henriette Szilagyi

Materials 2021, 14(16), 4442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164442 - 8 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1803

Abstract

The development of mold films on the cement surfaces of buildings is a health and safety problem for the population, aesthetic but also in terms of their durability. The use of specific performance of cementitious composites containing TiO₂ nanoparticles, photoactivated by UV radiation, can be a viable solution to mitigate to eliminate these problems. The experimental studies presented aim to analyze the capacity to inhibit the development of mold type Aspergillus and Penicillium on the surface of composite materials with nano-TiO₂ content and the identification of the optimal range of nanomaterial addition. The identification and analysis of the inhibition halo (zone with a biological load of maximum 1–10 colonies of microorganisms) confirmed the biocidal capacity of the cementitious composites, but also indicated the possibility that an excess of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the mixture could induce a development of cell resistance, which would be unfavorable both in terms of behavior and in terms of cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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23 pages, 4605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Nano-Al₂O₃ on the Physical and Strength Properties as Well as on the Morphology of Cement Composite Crack Surfaces in the Early and Later Maturation Age

by Wioleta Iskra-Kozak and Janusz Konkol

Materials 2021, 14(16), 4441; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164441 - 8 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

This article presents the effect of aluminum nanoxide on the physical, strength and structural properties of cement mortars. The mortars were made with a water to binder ratio of 0.5 and a binder to sand ratio of 1:3; and 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% of aluminum nanoxide, respectively, were used by cement weight. First, the consistency of nano-Al₂O₃ mortars was tested. Next, after 7 days of sample maturation, compressive and flexural strength tests were carried out and continued after 28 and 90 days of the maturing of the mortars. The best test results were obtained for mortars with the addition of 1% aluminum nanoxide, the compressive strength of which increased by about 20% compared to the reference mortars. The water absorption and rising capillary tests as well as SEM observations were also performed. Another aim of the article is the analysis of the fracture morphology of nano-Al₂O₃ modified mortars. It is assumed that a change of the microstructure of the hardened cement paste affects not only the properties of the modified mortars but also the roughness of the fractures formed as a result of the destruction of the surface. Roughness analysis was performed with methods and tools relevant to fractal geometry. The fractographic analysis showed a significant influence of the modifier in the form of nano-Al₂O₃ on the values of fractal dimensions. The lowest values of the fractal dimension D and the fractal dimension of the D_RP roughness profile of the fracture surface profile lines were obtained for nano-Al₂O₃ modified mortars. The conducted research proved the fractal dimension to be a parameter extremely sensitive to modifications of mortar composition as well as changes related to the maturation time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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12 pages, 3569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Thermally Treated SiC Nanowhiskers and Superplasticizer for Cementitious Composite Production

by Nagilla Azevedo, José Andrade Neto, Paulo de Matos, Andrea Betioli, Maciej Szeląg and Philippe Gleize

Materials 2021, 14(15), 4062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154062 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1456

Abstract

Nanomaterials are potential candidates to improve the mechanical properties and durability of cementitious composites. SiC nanowhiskers (NWs) present exceptional mechanical properties and have already been successfully incorporated into different matrices. In this study, cementitious composites were produced with a superplasticizer (SP) and 0–1.0 wt % SiC NWs. Two different NWs were used: untreated (NT-NW) and thermally treated at 500 °C (500-NW). The rheological properties, cement hydration, mechanical properties, and microstructure were evaluated. The results showed that NWs incorporation statistically increased the yield stress of cement paste (by up to 10%) while it led to marginal effects in viscosity. NWs enhanced the early cement hydration, increasing the main heat flow peak. NWs incorporation increased the compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity of composites by up to 56%, 66%, and 80%, respectively, while it did not statistically affect the water absorption. Scanning electron microscopy showed a good bond between NWs and cement matrix in addition to the bridging of cracks. Overall, the thermal treatment increased the specific surface area of NWs enhancing their effects on cement properties, while SP improved the NWs dispersion, increasing their beneficial effects on the hardened properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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16 pages, 5182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nano Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃) as a Reliable, Durable, and Environment-Friendly Alternative to Diminishing Fly Ash

by Lochana Poudyal, Kushal Adhikari and Moon Won

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3729; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133729 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2464

Abstract

Fly ash is widely used in the cement industry to improve the performance and durability of concrete. The future availability of fly ash, however, is a concern, as most countries are inclining towards renewable energy sources as opposed to fossil fuels. Additional concerns have been raised regarding the impact of strict environmental regulations on fly ash quality and variability. This paper, therefore, evaluates if nano calcium carbonate (nano CaCO₃) can be used as an alternative to fly ash. This paper presents comprehensive testing results (fresh, hardened, and durability) for OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) and PLC (Portland Limestone Cement) concretes with 1% nano CaCO₃ and compares them to those for concretes with fly ash (both Class F and C). Compared to concretes with fly ash, OPC and PLC with nano CaCO₃ presented improved testing results in most cases, including later age strength, permeability, and scaling resistance. As nanotechnology in concrete is a relatively new topic, more research on the efficient use of nanotechnology, such as for proper dispersion of nano CaCO₃ in the concrete, has potential to offer increased benefits. Further, nano CaCO₃ is environmentally and economically viable, as it has the potential to be produced within the cement plant while utilizing waste CO₂ and generating economic revenue to the industry. Thus, nano CaCO₃ has the potential to serve as an alternative to fly ash in all beneficial aspects—economic, environmental, and technical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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16 pages, 3502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rheology of Cement Pastes with Siliceous Fly Ash and the CSH Nano-Admixture

by Bartosz Szostak and Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133640 - 29 Jun 2021

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 2239

Abstract

The use of fly ash in cement composites adversely affects its mechanical properties during the first days of mixture curing. Modern technology, in the form of an admixture containing the hydrated calcium silicates, allows to accelerate the hardening and binding process of concrete. In this paper, studies on the influence of the admixture on properties of concretes with the ordinary Portland cements (OPC) containing the addition of siliceous fly ash (FA) have been carried out. As part of the experimental research, the authors conducted a series of studies for cement pastes modified with the addition of FA and the CSH nano-admixture (NA). In order to compare the mixtures, the following tests of cement pastes were carried out: the compressive and flexural strength, heat of hydration, SEM and rheological shrinkage. The mechanical parameters were tested after 4, 8, 12 and 24 h. The hydration heat test and microstructure analysis were carried out during the first 24 h of the concrete curing. All tests were carried out on the standard samples. On the basis of the heat of hydration test, much higher hydration heat was found in mixtures modified with the NA. During the shrinkage test, a positive effect of the NA was observed—the shrinkage during the first 28 days of mixture curing was lower than in the reference samples. The application of the CSH nano-admixture to cement pastes with the addition of FA has brought positive effects. Apart from a significant increase in strength in the first 24 h of mixture curing, a reduction in the rheological shrinkage was observed. The admixture can be successfully used in the ash concretes, in which a higher early strength is required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology for Cement Composite Materials)

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