Use of nano-silica in cement based materials—A review

Abstract

The research nowadays is mainly focusing on the basic science of cementitious material at nano/atomic level. Further, researchers are continuing to improve the durability and sustainability of concrete and have realized significant increment in mechanical properties of cementitious materials by incorporating nano-silica. The review paper summarizes the effect of nano-silica addition on mechanical, durability and microstructure characteristics of paste, mortar and concrete. It provides the current development of application of nano-silica in paste, mortar and concrete. Finally, the future trend/potential and implication of nanosilica in cement-based materials is discussed. Their areas of interest include use of nanosilica in concrete, its study of mechanical and durability properties. High-performance concrete, self-compacting concrete, their performance and durability aspects incorporating industrial by-products. Cement is one of the most energyconsuming materials widely used globally. Efforts are being made mainly to use supplementary cementitious materials in mortars and concrete directed towards the reduction of carbon footprint. The present research work is one such effort towards attaining the above goal. PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENTConcrete is one of most commonly used material on earth after water. Use of nano-materials, particularly nano-silica as supplementary cementitious material, in manufacturing of paste, mortar, and concrete offer the potential of producing materials with new and interesting properties, such as enhanced strength and durability properties. In this article, a review of use of nano-silica in paste, mortar and concrete is presented which provides an insight in the use of nano-silica in recent past. It also provides the current development of application of nano-silica with future trend/potential and implication of nano-silica in cement-based materials.

On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting their stone masonry

“…The difference is that the silica species leading to the gel are typically not generated from the stone material but supplied from outside. (Zornoza-Indart & López-Arce, 2016) (Zendri et al, 2007) (Aggarwal et al, 2015). Two main strategies are applied.…”

Mix Design and Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash and GGBFS-Synthesized Alkali-Activated Concrete (AAC)

“…Infrastructures 2019, 4, 20 3 of 11 analysis [7,25,26]. The flyash was obtained by National Thermal Power Corporation, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India and its specific gravity value is mentioned in Table 3.…”

“…Fly ash particles are spherical in shape, obtained from a mid-burning of powdered coal. The chemical composition of fly ash contains silica, alumina and minor measured oxides viz: Fe, Na, Ca, Mg and K. The synthetic constituents in class F fly ash are silica and alumina, both accounts for over 90% of chemical compounds present in fly ash, which was obtained by XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis [7,25,26]. The flyash was obtained by National Thermal Power Corporation, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India and its specific gravity value is mentioned in Table 3.…”

Effects of elevated temperatures on the properties of nanomodified rapid hardening concretes

“…This effect can be attributed to improvement of thermal stability of calcium silicate hydrate gel (C-S-H) and to the filler effect [5]. Due to the reactivity of nanosilica more high-density C-S-H was produced, and samples containing nanosilica had still higher residual compressive strength.…”