Evaluation of mechanical properties and potential environmental applications of biomimetic mineralized composites

Abstract

With the growing emphasis on environmental protection, there has been extensive research on new green cementitious materials suitable for different conditions. This study focuses on the influence of key environmental factors on proposed biomimetic mineralized composites (BMC) using polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a modifier, based on the biomimetic chemistry induced carbonate precipitation (BCICP) method. The environmental factors examined include the cementing matrices type, the magnesium ions concentration, and the cementing solution pH. The samples treated under various conditions were evaluated for their unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and calcium carbonate content, and their microstructure was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results demonstrate that the BMC treatment could achieve high-strength cementation for both Toyoura sand and Fujian quartz sand, with a more pronounced enhancement observed for Toyoura sand. Magnesium ions reduce the cementation effect, and they cannot fully replace calcium ions in participating in the cementation process. Moreover, the cementing solution pH significantly influences the cementation effect, with the best acid-base condition for PAA to modify BMC sand samples found at a pH of 11.5. Overall, the BMC exhibits high performance under various environmental conditions. These findings could provide valuable insights into the influence of environmental factors and the potential applications of BMC in diverse environments.