Microstructure and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced cementitious composites developed using a novel dispersion technique
- Submitting institution
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The University of Huddersfield
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 36
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
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10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.03.006
- Title of journal
- Cement and Concrete Research
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 215
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- -
- ISSN
- 0008-8846
- Open access status
- Out of scope for open access requirements
- Month of publication
- April
- Year of publication
- 2015
- URL
-
-
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- 8 - Chemistry
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
3
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This research designed and developed carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced high-performance cementitious composites for construction by solving ever-exiting dispersion problem of CNTs. Pluronic F-127 surfactant, which was studied for first time in cementitious matrices, not only ensured a highly homogeneous CNT dispersion but also enhanced the inherent properties of hardened cement matrices. In this interdisciplinary research, the knowledge of CNT and cement materials and surfactant science was applied to design a new cementitious material for civil engineering. This work revealed that Pluronic F-127 has the capability of improving processing, microstructure and mechanical properties of cementitious materials and can be advantageously used as an additive to the cement matrices with or without CNTs. This new approach has been followed by several researchers worldwide (i.e., cited in numerous prestigious journals such as Carbon, Journal of Cleaner Production, Cement and Concrete Research, Composites Part A & B, Composite Structures, etc.) to design high-performance construction materials using a wide range of nano/micro reinforcements such as CNTs, graphene, microcrystalline cellulose, etc. As this surfactant reduced the porosity of cementitious materials, it has potential to resist penetration of degrading agents into concrete, therefore significantly enhancing its durability. The improved performance and durability of these newly designed construction materialscan significantly reduce concrete usage in civil engineering structures reducing its substantial carbon footprint. A range of different characterisation techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, FTIR, TGA and DTG and mechanical testing were used to properly understand these new construction materials. Dr Rana made a major contribution to this research output through his specialisation and skills in Fibre Science, Composites and Nanotechnology by contributing to research planning, supervision, data analysis and writing the article. This research sits within the fields of technical textiles and materials science.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -