Co-modifying geopolymer composite by nano carbon black and carbon fibers to reduce CO2 emissions in airport pavement induction heating

Abstract

CO2 emissions during airport pavement induction heating for ice and snow melting are primarily determined by the electrothermal behavior of electrically conductive layer (ECL). A single type of conductive filler is difficult to significantly improve the electrothermal performance of ECL while maintaining its mechanical properties. This work introduces nano carbon black (NCB) into carbon fiber-reinforced geopolymer to prepare NCB-carbon fiber co-modified geopolymer composites (NMGC) with great potential to dramatically improve the electrothermal performance of ECL and reduce CO2 emissions during induction heating. Furthermore, in order to provide guidance support for the ECL design, the evolution mechanisms of the electrothermal and mechanical properties of NMGC were inquired through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis and geopolymerization rate characterization, respectively. Results show that introducing 1 wt% NCB into the carbon fiber-reinforced geopolymer can effectively increase the reaction rate within NMGC and improve its electrothermal performance due to the enhanced electron transition. Indoor induction heating tests further indicate that the optimized NMGC can reduce the CO2 emissions by 13.7 kg/m2 comparing to the NMGC without NCB during 30 min of induction heating.