Influence of the addition of carbon nanotube on the physical behavior of a lateritic soil from the southwest Amazon

Abstract

In this work we evaluate the physical-mechanical behavior of lateritic soil with addition of carbon nanotubes. The soil was collected in a commercial deposit located in Rio Branco – AC and later characterized through particle size tests, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Dispersion Spectroscopy and Tropical Compressed Miniature essay. The dispersion of nanotubes in solution was carried out and the size of the nanoparticles was verified using Dynamic Light Spreading - DLS, Zeta Potential and PDI. Three percentages of additions (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%) of carbon nanotubes were evaluated and compared with the control group according to the parameters of Atterberg limits, real density, dry density maximum and optimum humidity. The results indicate that the soil has a clayey behavior with a medium texture, with the presence of clay mineral kaolinite in its composition and silicon and iron oxides. The dispersion of carbon nanotubes reached particles with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 68.9 nm and Zeta Potential of -24.87 mV and PDI of 0.231, characterizing a solution as moderately dispersed and kinetically stable. The results of the liquidity limit and plasticity tests showed a reduction of 10 and 13%, respectively, with the addition of carbon nanotubes, while for the parameters of plasticity index, real specific mass, maximum dry density and optimal moisture, they did not show significant variation. Carbon nanotubes interact with soils with lateritic behavior, and further studies are essential to better understand the mechanisms behind this interaction.