Optimization of mechanical property and microstructure for magnesium phosphate cement-based canvas using borax

Abstract

As a type of excellent rapid protective material with fast hardening and high early strength characteristics, magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is used as the cementitious material to fabricate concrete canvas. For a thick MPC canvas, sufficient hydration reaction is crucial in keeping its integrity. Borax is used to adjust the hydration progress of MPC in warp-knitted fabrics. The effects of different borax contents (0 %, 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, 5 %, 6 %) on the compactness of reaction products and the mechanical properties of MPC canvas are evaluated. In addition, SEM, XRD, hydration heat, and X-CT are used to systematically analyze the hydration morphology, products, exothermic process, and pore structure of MPC canvas. The results show that borax can effectively delay the setting time of MPC, addressing the issue of incomplete hydration of MPC powder in thick canvas. The 4 % borax content (B4 sample) can ensure the complete reaction in a 20 mm thick MPC canvas, achieving the maximum compressive and flexural strengths of 26.37 MPa and 4.9 MPa at 7 d, respectively. Borax effectively optimizes the pore structure of MPC canvas and achieves a dense bond at the interface between MPC and the canvas fabric with the minimum porosity of 11 % in the B4 sample. Therefore, borax is crucial for ensuring the structural integrity of MPC canvas.