Enhanced Mechanical and Durability Properties of Cement Mortar by Using Alumina Nanocoating on Carbon Nanofibers |
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| Authors: | Huda Al Qader Ahmed M Jasim Hani Salim Yangchuan Xing David Stalla |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;2.Department of Biomedical, Biological, and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.M.J.); (Y.X.);3.Electron Microscopy Core Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; |
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| Abstract: | This study evaluated the effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) coated by aluminum oxide Al2O3 as a reinforcement on compressive strength, frost resistance, and drying shrinkage of cement mortars. Three weight ratios of 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% of Al2O3/CNFs and bare CNF cement mortars were compared with reference cement mortar samples. The reactive porous and high surface area layer of alumina induced the hydration reaction and promoted the production of well-distributed hydration gel. Derivative thermal analysis–differential thermogravimetric (TGA-DTG) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) characterization showed that Al2O3/CNFs reinforcement led to greater hydration gel production than bare CNFs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to study the coating and microstructure of the cement mortars evaluated in this paper. The results show that the optimum enhancement of the cement mortar properties was obtained at ratios of 0.125% for Al2O3/CNFs and 0.25% for CNFs. This enhancement was greater with Al2O3/CNFs-reinforced specimens in terms of high compressive strength, less compressive strength degradation after 150 cycles, and less drying shrinkage. The low use of the CNFs in Al2O3/CNFs samples indicates the coating is an economical and promising approach for improving the performance of cement mortars. |
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| Keywords: | carbon nanofibers nanocoating alumina durability |
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