Improvement of Concrete Mechanical Properties by Adding Nanomaterials

Abstract

This study examined the impact of replacing the cement weight in concrete with nanomaterials (mix (C) 1% Carbon Nanotube CNT, mix (T) 2.5% Nano Titanium and mix (S) 3% Nano Silica) on the concrete mechanical properties through experimental investigations and comparison with normal concrete to show the extent of the effect of adding nanomaterials on the properties of concrete. The differences and increasing in the compressive strength for the mix (T) by comparison with the mix (N) and the mix (S) in the age of 7 days the increasing was 17% and 80% for the mix (S) and (T) respectively, In the age of 28 days the increasing was 44% and 60% with the mix (S) and (T) respectively and in the age of 56 days the increasing was 32% and 36% with the mix (S) and (T) respectively. The compressive strength for mix (C) was decreased 39%, 22%, 13% compared with the compressive strength for mix (N) at 7, 28 and 56days, respectively. The best improvements in compressive strength and splitting tensile strength for the mix that was added Nano Titanium (T) replacement by (2.5%) from weight of cement. For the mixes with nano material, a highest unit weight was observed at the age of 28 days. Referring to the results of SEM (Scanning electron microscope), the effect of nano Silica on the durability and mechanical properties of concrete can be explained by microstructure and from measuring X-ray diffraction (XRD) of concrete samples with the added Nano materials, these materials added to the concrete have clearly affected on the crystalline and chemical structure of the cement mortar components.