Hardening properties, water resistance and associated micro-mechanism of nano-modified calcium sulphoaluminate cement

Abstract

Calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) is considered a sustainable alternative to traditional Portland cement to reduce CO2 emissions. To further improve the hardening properties and water resistance of CSA and advance its extensive special engineering application, nanoparticles including nano-SiO2 (NS), nano-MgO (NM) and nano-Al2O3 (NA) were used as nano-modifiers for CSA. The effects of nanoparticles dosage on the setting time, compressive strength and water resistance of nano-modified CSA were experimentally evaluated, and the micro-mechanisms were also clarified by conducting X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) tests. The results showed that incorporating nanoparticles into CSA obviously shortened the initial and final setting times. The appropriate addition of nanoparticles effectively enhanced the compressive strength of CSA, and the optimum dosages of NS, NM, and NA were respectively determined to be 0.5%, 1.0%, and 0.5%. Water immersion decreased the bonding strength of CSA, and adding nanoparticles can effectively weaken this water-induced deterioration effect. Under water immersion environment, the optimum dosages of nanoparticles would be increased to obtain the highest residual water immersion strength and minimum strength loss rate. The generation of ettringite was mainly responsible for the compressive strength and water resistance improvements of nano-modified CSA. The hydration process of nano-modified CSA was clarified and the corresponding micro-mechanism model was proposed. Furthermore, the benefits and challenges of using nano-modified CSA were also analyzed, advancing its widespread application in rapid repair of special engineering.