Potential Application of Nanotechnology on Cement Based Materials

摘要

The tensile strength of cement paste is one of the most important mechanical properties that influence shrinkage cracks in cementious materials. Cement pastes which exhibit low tensile strength, tend to exhibit greater shrinkage crack potential and reduced durability. If the tensile strength in cement paste can be increased, then the shrinkage cracking potential can be minimized. It is believed that the strength and cohesion of cement paste is controlled by the formation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) gel. In order to be able to enhance macroscopic mechanical properties (tensile strength) it is necessary to understand the structure and behavior of C-S-H gel at the atomic level.