Nano Silica Research Articles

Compressive strength and microscopic mechanism of nanosilica modified recycled aggregate mortar

Due to low density, large pores, and numerous cracks, recycled aggregate mortar has defects of lower fluidity and lower strength compared to natural aggregate mortar. In order to modify inherent defects of recycled aggregates, nanosilica (NS) with different dosages (0%, 0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, 2.4% and 3%) was added to recycled aggregate mortar (RNC), and 40% natural sand in RNC was replaced by recycled aggregates. Then consistency test, compressive strength test and microscopic tests (SEM, EDS and XRD) were conducted to investigate working performance and microscopic mechanism. It was found that the addition of NS can improve the flowability of RNC, and the consistency value reaches the maximum (53 mm) while NS content is 2.4%, which increases by 14% comparing to the specimen without NS. The compressive strength of RNC increases and decreases with increasing NS content in the ranges of 0–1.8% and 1.8–3% respectively, and compressive strength is 3.3 and 5.9 MPa at curing ages of 7 d and 28 d respectively while NS content is 1.8%, which increase 50% and 14% comparing to the specimen without NS. Meanwhile, the consistency value of the specimen with NS content of 1.8% is 51 mm, which is close the maximum value corresponding to NS content of 2.4%. For that, 1.8% is suggested as the optimal content of NS. Moreover, the addition of NS can reduce the brittleness index and mechanical damage degree, and enhance the energy absorption effect. Microscopic analysis reveals that NS can not only fill the inherent cracks and pores of recycled aggregates, but also promote cement hydration reaction, and more hydration products (C-S-H) can efficiently reduce the cracks and pores of recycled aggregates. It is believed that the finds of this paper can provide theoretical support for the application of recycled aggregates in practical engineering.

Study on the mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled concrete reinforced with basalt fibers and nano-silica in early low-temperature environments

Abstract The effects of basalt fibers (BF) and nano-silica (NS) on the mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled concrete (RC) in early low-temperature environments were investigated by placing the BF and NS modified RC specimens in the environments of −20, −10, 0, and 25°C for curing for 6 h, followed by standardized maintenance. The damage morphology and mechanical properties of modified RC were analyzed in such environments. The formulae for the compressive strength of RC, which was affected by BF and NS, were fitted using statistical product and service solutions, and a micromorphological analysis of the modified RC was conducted using scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties of RC decreased owing to the influence of early low temperatures, among which 0°C caused the largest damage crack and the most serious effects. In the early low-temperature environments, the physical properties of RC generally increased and then decreased with the increase in BF dosage; however, increasing NS dosages improved its mechanical properties. The composite doping of BF and NS was more obvious than the single doping of BF or NS to enhance the performance of RC, and the internal pore structure was considerably improved. The preferred doping amounts were 3 kg m−3 of BF and 2% NS.

Investigation of strength and water permeability of sustainable high-performance concrete containing high-volume ground bottom ash blended with fly ash and nano-silica

This investigation focussed on minimizing the Portland cement usage in developing sustainable high-performance concrete (HPC) as low-carbon concrete. High-volume ground bottom ash (GBA) was utilized as cement substitution in combination with fly ash (FA) and nano-silica (NS) for producing HPC with compressive strength of 100 MPa, and various concrete mixes were examined to assess its workability, mechanical performance, water permeability, and carbon emissions. The microstructure of the materials and pastes were also analyzed with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP). GBA was used to replace Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at very high levels of cement replacement, ranging from 60 to 80 % by weight of binder. As ternary binders, 10 % fly ash and 2 % nano-silica (NS) by weight of binder were also used to replace GBA. The early-age compressive strength of HPC containing high-volume GBA increased by using 2 % of NS. Incorporating 10 % of FA into HPC reduced the superplasticizer requirement, enhanced workability, and exhibited slightly lower early strength. The compressive strength of HPC containing 58 % GBA, 10 % FA, and 2 % NS could be developed at 90 days was more than 110 MPa. Moreover, the investigation indicated that employing GBA in the mix represents environmental sustainability for the development of high-performance concrete.

Development of insulation oil based on Palm Oil Mill Effluent with nano silica

Development of insulation oil based on Palm Oil Mill Effluent with nano silica

Quaternary blended eco high performance concrete utilizing high volumes of siliceous additives

This research examines the optimal feasibility of incorporating siliceous additives as an adjunct material for cement in the formulation of environmentally sustainable high-performance concrete (Eco-HPC). Siliceous materials, including Nano silica (NS), Rice Husk Ash (RHA), and Fly Ash (FA), were fine-tuned within the cementitious system in order to achieve the amplified performance of Eco-HPC by reducing the required cement content from 370 kg/m3 to 273 kg/m3. This is achieved by employing the Modified Andreasen and Andreasen (MA&A) particle packing model, with ‘q’ (distribution factor) as ‘0.3’. The Levenberg Marquardt algorithm (curve fitting) was utilized to validate the packing density of each concrete blends. Initially, the dry NS agglomerates are synthesized into stabilized aqueous dispersion through High shear mixing (10 min/1750 rpm) followed by probe sonication (15 min/(1/3) s/s) with anionic surfactant dosage of 0.1 g/10 g. Incorporating secondary siliceous binders into the cement matrix led to an enhancement in the packing density, increasing from 0.94 (nullary) to 0.96 (quaternary) which in turn alters the reactivity and cohesiveness of the matrix. Compressive strength values for Binary (NS2), Ternary (RN15, FN20), and quaternary mix (FRN25) were observed as 57.42 MPa, 56.83 MPa, 55.34 MPa, and 52.58 MPa, respectively, for primary binder contents of 362 kg/m3, 314 kg/m3, 296 kg/m3, and 273 kg/m3 without compromising durability parameters. An assessment on reduced carbon dioxide emissions indicated that increasing the cement replacement percentages in Eco-HPC by up to 30% for binder contents of 358 kg/m3, 296 kg/m3, 259 kg/m3, and 273 kg/m3 resulted in a reduction of CO2 emissions by 2.98%, 18%, 27%, and 23.33%, respectively. Among the twelve formulated mixes, FRN25, FRN20, FRN15 and FN30 are identified as Eco-HPC mix through a computational framework which integrates the packing density, carbon emission, strength and diffusion coefficient.

Ultra-stable foam enabled by nano silica engineering for foam concrete improvement

Foam concrete is increasingly applied in construction due to its lightweight, good thermal insulation and fire resistance, and environmental sustainability, while its low strength limits its further popularization and applications. To enhance the stability and performance of foam concrete, amphiphilic nano silica (ANS) was employed in this study to modify the sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) based foaming agent. Then, the designed foam was utilized to fabricate foam concrete, of which the micro/macro performance was analysed in detail. The results showed that ANS-modified foam exhibited superior stability with a thicker foam wall thickness, contributing to the enhancement of foam stability within the cement matrix. The foam concrete with ANS exhibited higher strength compared to the control groups. The analysis of pore structures revealed that the ANS modification led to a more rounded and homogeneous pore configuration, characterized by an increased proportion of small and medium-sized pores and a decreased average pore size. The increase in pore roundness was accompanied by a reduction in the number of sharp edges of the pores and therefore a reduction in the stress concentration factor, while the moderately sized pore also was more conducive to increasing strength due to its lower stress concentration. As a result, the strength of the concrete is significantly increased. These findings demonstrate the potential of ANS as an effective foam stabilizer for foam concrete production, leading to enhanced foam stability and improved mechanical properties of concrete.

Enhancing the fire resistance properties of thermally modified Robinia pseudoacacia wood with natural and synthetic flame retardants: chemical characterisation and fire behaviour

The increasing demand for wood with enhanced flame retardant characteristics in construction applications necessitates strategic interventions. This study explores the fire behaviour and chemical characterisation of Robinia pseudoacacia wood subjected to thermal modification and flame retardant treatments. Thermal modification was carried out at three different temperatures (160 °C, 180 °C and 240 °C). The fire properties of wood coated with Flame Gard (F), a commercial flame retardant, arabinogalactan (A), a natural flame retardant, melamine adhesive (MF) with ammonium polyphosphate (AP), nanosilica (NS), nanoclay (NC) (MF-AP-NS and MF-AP-NC) and arabinogalactan with AP, NS and NC (A-AP-NS and A-AP-NC), were assessed using cone calorimetry in terms of the weight loss rate, ignition time and heat release rate. The commercial flame retardant Flame Gard outperformed the natural and fortified flame retardants in terms of the weight loss rate, heat release rate (HRR) and ignition time (tig). Unmodified samples exhibited superior fire properties in terms of tig and HRR compared to thermally modified samples. The peak heat release rate (kW.m− 2) and time to peak heat release rate (s) showed a moderate degree of dependency on the chemical constituents of the wood.

Utilizing ANFIS for strength characteristics forecasting in variable heat-cured geopolymer composites

Reducing cement usage through geopolymer concrete (GPC) can be crucial for resolving environmental concerns. The byproduct of the coal and steel industry, such as fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), is mainly used as a precursor in the production of GPC due to the availability of aluminosilicate products in it. In this work, nano silica is added to the GPC in different percentages and GPC is cured at different temperatures to study the change in the strength of GPC due to change in curing temperature. The compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength up to 68.99 MPa, 5.89 MPa, 6.82 MPa, respectively was achieved after 28 days of heat curing. However, testing GPC experimentally to anticipate its strength is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the ability to precisely forecast concrete strength can be achieved through machine learning. In this study, the correlation for both nano silica (%) and curing temperature towards the strength of concrete is also investigated using adaptive neuro fuzzy interference system (ANFIS) models. ANFIS results showed better compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength prediction with the highest R2 0.9801, 0.9943, and 0.9877, respectively. The performance efficiency of the developed ANFIS model is more significant minimum error for compressive strength prediction (MAE = 0.21375, RMSE = 0.02574, MAPE = 0.42), split tensile strength prediction (MAE = 0.07375, RMSE = 0.0923, MAPE = 1.46) and flexural strength prediction (MAE = 0.04, RMSE = 0.0728, MAPE = 0.78) of GPC cured under different temperature conditions. The results from experiments show that the prediction efficiency of the model is also good, as indicated by the correlation coefficient (R). This model is helpful for further designing the proportion of material for achieving good strength of GPC.

Optimal screening method for dosage of calcium-based nanosilica modified expansive soils improver based on cost-effectiveness

Under complex natural environments, the properties of lime-modified expansive soil may deteriorate. This facilitates the need for newer materials to develop composite modifiers to improve the anti-deterioration performance. Nanosilica (NS), which is a highly reactive material, is a good promoter of reaction systems with volcanic ash. In this paper, lime is mixed with NS according to a specified ratio to form calcium-based nanosilica (NS-C). NS-C significantly increased the unconfined compressive strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle and decreased the plasticity index, free swelling ratio, and permeability coefficient. The optimum ratio of nano-silica to lime in compound modifier was determined to be 1:8. NS can facilitate the production of a large amount of hydration products in the early stage of the reaction of stabilized soil, thus strengthening the connection between soil particles. In addition, NS exhibits good filling effect on the tiny pores between soil particles. The properties of NS-C stabilized soils with different ratios and curing times were determined to evaluate the modification effect and mechanism of composite modifier and obtain the optimal dosage for Hefei expansive soils in road-base edging technology. The optimum content of the compound modifier for expansive soils in the Hefei area should be 6 %, and the curing time should be at least 14 days.

Effect of nano-silica modified resin on the interface strength and toughness of Al/CFRP hybrid laminates

In order to improve the interfacial strength and toughness of aluminum alloys and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastics) hybrid laminates, modified resin with lower porosity was prepared by adding nano silica treated with silane coupling agent into epoxy resin. Al/CFRP hybrid laminates with modified resin were prepared by physical liquid deposition method and hot-press process. The strength and toughness of Al/CFRP hybrid laminates with modified resin were evaluated by tensile shear test and end notch fracture (ENF) test. The experimental results showed that the interfacial shear strength of Al/CFRP hybrid modified resin laminates is 18.8 ± 0.8 MPa and the fracture energy is 1546.33 ± 10.26 J /m2, which is 28.76 % and 15.38 % higher than that of Al/CFRP hybrid laminates with raw resin, respectively. The well-dispersed silicon nanoparticles effectively mitigate internal stress during the cross-linking process of the modified resin, thereby diminishing the dimensions of microcracks within the modified resin. The transition layer of the modified resin interface formed a cooperative and smooth structure. This structure can ensure that the transition of elements in the interface layer is smooth, and it is not easy to cause stress concentration. The formation of new bonds (C-Si bonds) at the interface of the modified resin indicates an enhancement of bonding strength at the interface, superimposing upon van der Waals forces, thereby enhancing the adhesive strength of the modified resin interface.

Contrastive study on mechanical and microstructure properties of silt improved by nano material stabilizers

Silt is generally stabilized with industrial waste for subgrade filler material. However, problems such as high cost, poor water stability, and easy shrinkage hinder the use of industrial waste-stabilizing materials. Experiments are conducted to compare the effect of nano-silica (NS) and nano-MgO (NM) on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of silt. It is undertaken by stabilized silt with NM and NS in four different concentration grades of NM(S)-3, NM(S)-4, NM(S)-5, NM(S)-6 ( 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6% by weight of silt). XRD, FT-IR, and SEM tests are carried out to discern the latent mechanisms so that the mineral composition and pore structure within the soil matrix can be explained. The results demonstrate that the increase in different grades of nano-MgO and nano-silica stabilized silt plays an important role in improving the mechanical properties of the silt. Nano-silica is more conducive to strength and water resistance enhancement due to the formation of ettringite and C-S-H gel. Nevertheless, a small amount of nano-MgO can better improve the water stability of stabilized silt in the early stage. Optimal results are obtained for silt treated with NS-5 (2% cement, 2% GGBS, 1% FA, 0.5% nano-silica) and NM-5 (2% cement, 2% GGBS, 1% FA, 0.5% nano-MgO). XRD, FT-IR, and SEM analysis of the samples show, respectively, that the amorphous (C-S-H) structure and the soil particles embedded in the cementitious matrix comprise the strength of the silt. Nano-MgO is mainly involved in carbonation and pozzolanic reactions. The cement hydration reaction and ettringite formation, which unite smaller particles to produce larger particles, are enhanced by the addition of SiO2. In summary, this paper recommends the use of nano-MgO to improve the early strength of stabilized silt, and the use of nano-silica to improve the long-term strength.

Pompon Mum-like SiO2/C Nanospheres with High Performance as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

SiO2 has a much higher theoretical specific capacity (1965 mAh g−1) than graphite, making it a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, but its low conductivity and volume expansion problems need to be improved urgently. In this work, pompon mum-like SiO2/C nanospheres with the sandwich and porous nanostructure were obtained by using dendritic fibrous nano silica (DFNS) and glucose as matrix and carbon source, respectively, through hydrothermal, carbonization and etching operations. The influence of SiO2 content and porous structure on its electrochemical performance was discussed in detail. The final results showed that the C/DFNS-6 with a SiO2 content of 6 wt% exhibits the best electrochemical performance as a negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its optimal specific surface area, porosity, and appropriate SiO2 content. C/DFNS-6 displays a high specific reversible capacity of 986 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 200 cycles, and 529 mAh g−1 at a high current density (1.0 A g−1) after 300 cycles. It also has excellent rate capability, with a reversible capacity that rises from 599 mAh g−1 to 1066 mAh g−1 when the current density drops from 4.0 A g−1 to 0.2 A g−1. These SiO2/C specific pompon mum-like nanospheres with excellent electrochemical performance have great research significance in the field of lithium-ion batteries.

USE OF NANO SILICA AND COIR FIBER TO STRENGTHEN THE ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF CLAYEY SOIL

One of the problematic soils is expansive soil, which has a strong tendency to shrink when dried and to inflate when its moisture level changes. In India, expansive soils made up of clays are referred to as black cotton soils. The alternating swell-shrink tendency of expansive soils results in foundation structures, including buildings and earth retaining wall pavements, to become distressed. For geotechnical engineers, comprehending the behavior of expansive soil and implementing the proper control measures has been a challenging challenge. A lot of study is being done to develop solutions for soils that produce black cotton. This review study uses the soil index and engineering features to examine the behavior of clayey soil stabilized with different proportions of Nano silica and Coir Fiber. Coir is a naturally occurring, biodegradable material that is widely accessible in several coastal and southern regions of India. Nano silica is a type of filler material that increases ductility without compromising strength. With less swelling potential, the generated nano silica functioned as a hydraulic binder. In expansive soils, coir fiber and nano silica are combined for the goal of sustainable development. As part of this comparison study, laboratory tests including Atterberg's limit, Compaction test, CBR test, and UCS test were performed for both modified and unmodified clayey soil. In this work, expansive soil was stabilized using Nano silica and Coir Fiber. Coir Fiber was fixed at 3.5%, after that Nano silica was changed to 2%, 4%, and 6%. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, Coir Fiber, Nano Silica

Influence of the colloidal nano silica on the bonding of new-to-old concrete interface

The quality of the interface between new and existing concrete is a crucial factor that significantly affects the effectiveness of concrete patching and rehabilitation. This transitional zone between concrete layers exhibits inherent porosity and diminished structural integrity, which can potentially serve as the origin of cracks and fractures. The presented study was conducted to evaluate the quality of the new-to-old concrete interface when colloidal nano silica (CNS) is used. Apart from directly blending CNS with concrete materials, this study uniquely employed CNS as a surface agent to enhance the quality of the interface. The microstructure, mechanical bonding performance and chloride resistance property were evaluated on samples with new-to-old interface. By microstructural analysis, it was found that the porosity at the interface region was reduced from 24% to less than 16% when CNS was directly added into the concrete. Due to the improved hydration and the formation of a denser and uniform interface, a higher bonding strength was therefore achieved. Improvement in bonding strength was also found when CNS was used as an agent on the surface of the old layer, due to the precipitation and pozzolanic reaction of the nano silica particles. There were no apparent signs of increased porosity at the interface region as the precipitation of nano silica particles densified the cement matrix. Additionally, the solid precipitates generated frictional force, increasing the bonding strength under shearing loading. However, due to the lack of cohesion, the nano silica precipitates couldn’t sustain the tension under flexural test. Durability evaluation showed that the chloride resistance of the double-layer sample was effectively enhanced as the quality of the interface was improved with the use of CNS, especially when the surface method was used. The outcome of this study provides insight into the use of low CNS dosage to improve the new-to-old concrete interface and sheds light on the use of CNS as an interface agent.

Enhancement fracture behavior of sustainable cementitious composites using synergy between fly ash (FA) and nanosilica (NS) in the assessment based on digital image processing procedure

The present study has investigated the strength properties and fracture toughness of concrete composites reinforced 5 % nanosilica (NS) by adding different contents of fly ash (FA), i.e.: 0 %, 15 % and 25 %. The evaluated fracture toughness, under three-point flexural loads, were critical stress intensity factor (KIcS) and critical crack tip opening displacement (CTODc). Digital image processing procedure was used in this studies. It was stated that both the 5 % addition of NS and the total share of the nanomodifier with FA grains in the composition of the concrete mix significantly improve the strength properties of concretes, as well as their fracture toughness under first model of cracking in linear and non-linear terms. Moreover, it was observed that in concrete containing only NS the fracture process was clearly delayed and relatively short, whereas crack patterns in this composite were almost perfectly straight with significant crack width. On the other hand, in concretes icorporating NS + FA crack patterns were strongly curved (frequently with branching) with few microcracks in the vicinity of the main cracks. Concretes including FA and NS can be used in the execution of specific types of reinforced concrete structures subjected to fatigue or dynamic loads, e.g. bridge structures or industrial buildings.

A novel magnetic approach to improve compressive strength and magnetization of concrete containing nano silica and steel fibers

Novel exploratory research was conducted on the utilization of a new method to optimize the magnetic effect on the compressive strength of concrete specimens containing nano silica and steel fibers. According to the results of previous experiments, this research investigated the compressive strength of 7- and 28-day concrete with different amounts of nano silica and steel fiber in the non-magnetized mode and also after applying the innovative Pre-Post technique (applying both pre- and post-magnetization modes to a specimen), on the other hand, the magnetic susceptibility of this type of concrete was also investigated by increasing the magnetic flux density by 1 T, which was not investigated in previous studies. Based on this, it was proved that adding nano silica of up to 10 % as a substitute for cement and 1 % of steel fiber, increases the compressive strength by 88.79 % and 59.69 % in 7- and 28-day specimens respectively, as well as increasing the magnetic flux density is positively related to the compressive strength of specimens, meaning that with the increasing of this parameter up to 1 T, the compressive strength also enhanced by 152.26 % and 114.03 % for specimens containing 10 % nano silica and 1 % steel fibers in 7- and 28-day specimens respectively, in addition of this, it was evaluated that the rate of increment of the compressive strength in the 7-day specimens was higher than the 28-day ones. Using the results of this experiment, it is noteworthy that adopting the presented pre-post technique in addition to improving the performance of pre-magnetized concrete containing fiber in smart structures equipped with electromagnetic systems, can compensate for the negative effects of using large amounts of additives such as nano silica substituted with cement on compressive strength.

Synergistic effect of nano silica and metakaolin on mechanical and microstructural properties of concrete: An approach of response surface methodology

Nano and micro materials are both effective individually in enhancing the mechanical and microstructural properties of concrete. The combination illustrates an iconic shift in material engineering to produce concrete with distinctive characteristics. In this work, the combined effect of Nano Silica (NS) and Metakaolin (MK) on the mechanical and microstructure properties were examined by conducting compressive strength, split tensile strength, and Field Emission Scanning Election Microscope (FE-SEM) with Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The concrete matrix was investigated by varying the concentration of NS and MK with different Water-Binder Ratio (WBR). Further, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) technique was used to identify the complex interaction between NS (1–3 %) and MK (5–20 %) at different WBR (0.35, 0.40 and 0.45). The synergistic effect between NS and MK resulted in enhanced compressive and split tensile strengths of the concrete. The optimum mix proportion of the concrete was found to be 2 % NS and 12.5 % MK at a WBR of 0.4. The compressive strength enhancements for the optimum mix proportion were 35.75 %, 34.4 %, 33.1 %, and 32.5 %, while the split tensile strength enhancements were 26.56 %, 25.92 %, 20.95 %, and 17.8 %, respectively on the 7th, 28th, 56th, and 90th day. The RSM technique developed for all the mixes has been statistically validated to have less than 5 % of mean error. Moreover, the microstructural analysis revealed early hydration, formation of additional Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) products, and presence of dense microstructure resulting in improved microstructural properties. The incorporation of NS and MK in the concrete changes the concrete’s configuration at the nano and micro levels, thus paving the way for the development of novel and sustainable construction materials.

Combined Effect of Nano Ferrite and Nano Silica onProperties of Cement Mortar

This study investigates the effects of adding nano-ferrite (N.F.) and nano-silica (N.S.) on the mechanical and biological properties of mortar. By assessing four water-to-cement ratios (1-4%), the ideal nanoparticle doses were determined. Results indicated that both N.F. and N.S. significantly increased the mortar's strength at ratios between 1% and 4%, while combinations of N.F. and N.S. improved strength up to 3% and 4% substitution, respectively. The mechanisms of strength enhancement were attributed to nanoparticles acting as fillers and hydration accelerators, which densify the mortar microstructure and promote the production of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels. In terms of biological properties, the study examined the antibacterial effects of nano-silica and nano-ferrite. Nano-silica demonstrated greater antibacterial potency against all bacterial strains assessed. Both materials exhibited a stronger antibacterial impact on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) compared to Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), due to differences in cell wall structures. The study emphasizes the importance of optimal nanoparticle dosages and identifies limitations that warrant further research, such as durability and potential downsides at higher concentrations. Despite these challenges, the findings underscore the potential of nanoparticles to enhance mortar performance and suggest promising applications in construction and the development of antibacterial materials. Future research should focus on overcoming these constraints and exploring the practical applications of nanoparticle-enhanced mortar in real-world scenarios.

The potential of new eco-friendly formulations in enhancing the protection of ceramic artifacts

This study focuses on transforming the consolidation formulations based on Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), which is an eco-friendly bio-based cellulosic polymer with inherent hydrophilic characteristics to a hydrophobic one. This will be done via integrating the polymer with nano-silica and hydrophobic nano-silica, to enhance its consolidating properties to be in line with the global trend of replacing conventional materials with eco-friendly alternatives. Three different formulations were prepared, including HPC polymer solely, HPC integrated with nano-silica (NS), and HPC integrated with hydrophobic nano-silica (HNS). Primarily, nano-silica and hydrophobic nano-silica were synthesized and characterized using TEM and XRD. Subsequently, the prepared formulations were applied to artificial ceramic artifacts to evaluate their physical and mechanical properties, encompassing parameters such as water absorption, color change, contact angle, SEM/EDX, and digital microscopy. The results revealed that the incorporation of hydrophobic nano-silica significantly enhanced the mechanical and the physical properties of the cellulosic polymer, besides the extreme change that happened to its hydrophilic properties which was developed to a very good hydrophobic one. The success of these consolidation formulations can pave the way for the utilization of bio-based polymers with their inherent eco-friendly nature in the consolidation and restoration processes of cultural heritage artifacts, which can help in the contribution to the expanding body of knowledge in sustainable materials for conservation purposes.

Consequence of Cold Plasma on the Amorphous and Crystalline Nano Silica Extracted from Rice Husks Apt in Metal Air Battery

Consequence of Cold Plasma on the Amorphous and Crystalline Nano Silica Extracted from Rice Husks Apt in Metal Air Battery