Self-cooling mortar production with zinc oxide nanoparticles additive and investigation of the DC application when early-age hydration

Abstract

In this study, mortars with 300 dosages (weight of cement in mortar for 1 m3 production) were prepared by adding 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% by weight ZnO instead of cement. To investigate the effect of direct current (DC) on the flexural and compressive strength of the mortars, 22.5 V DC was applied to some of the specimens for one day while they were fresh. To investigate the effect of ZnO and DC on the hydration temperature, the hydration temperature values of the cement-based mortars were measured by placing a thermocouple (temperature meter) in the middle of the samples for one day. Various comparisons were made by recording the internal temperature values (°C) of the mortars using a data logger for each minute that electrical current was applied, and the electrical current was not applied. It was concluded that as the ZnO ratio in the mortars increased, the hydration temperature decreased. As a result, the setting time can be delayed by adding ZnO nanoparticles to mortars. Another result obtained from this research is that the final setting time can be shortened by increasing the ZnO ratio and applying DC to the mortars. HIGHLIGHTS Production of zinc oxide nanoparticles added mortar. The effect of direct current (DC) on mechanical, and microstructure features of the mortar. Delaying the setting time by using nano technology product (ZnO) Accelerating the setting time by using ZnO and DC application