Abstract
This work aims to investigate the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the strength and electrical properties of cement mortar. MWCNTs were added to cement mortar in four different concentrations: 0.00 wt.%, 0.01 wt.%, 0.015 wt.%, and 0.02 wt.% by the mass of cement. The consistency, density, setting time and compressive and flexural strength of mixes were tested and analyzed at 28 and 90 days curing time. Mechanical performance tests confirm an increase of 25% and 20% in the ultimate compressive and flexural strength respectively, which results from MWCNT 0.02 wt.% loading at 90 days curing time. The resistivity measurements in mortars with 0.01 and 0.015 wt.% MWCNT loading result up to 10% decrement at both 28 and 90 days curing. Activation energy calculations show fully accordance with these statements, resuming that 0.01 wt.% MWCNT appears to be the most effective loading scheme to produce certain conductivity enhancement in cement mortar.
Highlights
Concrete is a key material in the construction industry
Mechanical performance tests confirm an increase of 25% and 20% in the ultimate compressive and flexural strength respectively, which results from multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) 0.02 wt.% loading at 90 days curing time
Our results show an increase in density with MWCNTs content, which can be attributed to the reduction of air content in the cement matrix as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are added and occupy empty sites within the pore structure
Summary
Concrete is a key material in the construction industry. It is the most used element both in building and infrastructures construction such as bridges, hydraulic works, pavements, etc. The very nature of cement based materials imposes limitations to develop highly customizable features with added functionalities. One of the properties that cement microstructure prevents from developing is the electrical conductivity. Wet concrete behaves as a semiconductor, with resistivity in the range of 105 Ω/mm. Dry concrete has resistivity in the range of 1012 Ω/mm, which makes the material be considered as an insulator. The variation in the measured electrical resistivity in wet and dry concrete can be interpreted to find that concrete electrical conductivity is an effect of the evaporable water present in the material [8]
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