A study on ductility of nano-particles reinforced cement-based composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ductility of high strength nano-TiO 2 reinforced cement-based composites were experimentally studied and compared with that of plain cement-based composite and cement-based composite containing silica fume by stress-strain relationship. The results showed that the ductility of high strength cement-based composite containing nano-TiO 2 were better than that of plain cement-based composite and cement-based composite containing silica fume, which demonstrated that it is an available and effective way to improve ductility of high strength cement-based composite by means of mixing nanophase materials into cement-based composite. The origin of nanoparticles improving ductility of high strengthen cement-based composite was also preliminary interpreted. Keywords : Nanophase particles; cement-based composite; Mechanical properties; Ductility 1. INTRODUCTION Ceramics and ceramic composites are promising materials having rather high strength characteristics but quite low ductility properties at the same time. This is one of the major factors hindering the wide-scale application of these materials in various fields of human activities. Recent years many methods and materials were used to improve the fracture toughness of ceramics and ceramic composites. Among these nanophase materials and nanocomposites used became one of the most important methods to improve the va rious properties of ceramics and ceramic composites, in particular the ductility [1, 2]. Similarly, it is well known that the high brittleness is the bi ggest disadvantage of cement-based composite, especially of high strength cement-based composite. Many methods, such as the incorporation of all kinds of fibers into cement-based composite, have been applied to attempt to upgrade the toughness for a long time [3]. As mentioned above, nanophase materials mixed were expected to improve the ductility of high strength cement-based composite, and it has been proved to be feasible that nanophase materials could be mixed in mortar to achieve good mechanical properties [4]. Cement-based composite mixed with nano-TiO