Enhancement of the tensile properties of cement mortar composites with nanoadditives produced by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

While graphene effectively enhances the performance of cement-based materials, its current production methods are characterized by environmental unfriendliness and high energy consumption. To investigate a large-scale and eco-friendly graphene preparation approach, Carbon Nano Sheets (CNS) were synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The influence of CNS content on the tensile strength of cement mortar was assessed through the Brazilian splitting test. Concurrently, the mechanism of CNS was examined using acoustic emission monitoring and scanning electron microscope. The experimental results revealed that methane can be effectively decomposed into high-quality CNS at 1080 ℃ when using fly ash, silica fume, and sand as substrates. The Brazilian splitting test revealed that CNS effectively enhances the tensile strength of cement mortar, with improvements ranging from 9 % to 58.7 %. Acoustic emission results indicated that the inclusion of CNS reduces the occurrence of micro-fractures during the failure of cement mortar specimens. Furthermore, nano-mechanical testing and microstructural characterization demonstrate that CNS can reduce micro-cracks and pores in the interface transition zone and hydration products, playing a role in dense hydration products. Furthermore, it can decrease the width of the interface transition zone and enhance the micro-mechanical properties of cement pastes. This study offers a novel approach for the eco-friendly production of cement nano additives.