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Project Leader
Jon Makar
Phone: 613-993-3797
Fax: 613-954-5984
Email: Jon.Makar@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Cement / Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Materials
Objective
To develop new, high strength composite materials using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a binder and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as the reinforcement.
Carbon nanotube bundles bridging a crack in OPC
Background
SWCNT combined with a cement matrix should produce stronger, tougher concretes than are currently available for several reasons:
- Carbon nanotubes have ultra-high stiffness, elastic stress-strain behaviour and ultimate strengths more than 50 times greater than steel.
- SWCNT have aspect ratios of 500 or more and diameters - about the same size as the distance between layers in hydrated cement - so that cracks in the matrix would quickly encounter well-dispersed SWCNTs, inhibiting their growth.
- The small diameters of SWCNT should also be more easily incorporated in the hydrated OPC matrix than wider nanoparticles.
Statement of Work
- Developed repeatable methods of distributing carbon nanotubes in cement matrices.
- Studied reinforcing behaviour at the nanometer and micrometer scales.
- Investigated the effects of SWCNT on the hydration behaviour of OPC and tricalcium silicate.
- Explored ways to use carbon nanotubes in full-scale concrete composite structures.
Results
Single walled carbon nanotubes were found to act as nucleating agents for the hydration of both tricalcium silicate (C3S) and OPC, significantly accelerating the hydration process. C-S-H formed directly on the SWCNT, suggesting the potential for strong bonding between the two materials. Evidence of classical reinforcing behaviour was seen in the composite within 24 hours of hydration. However, production of concrete composite structures is limited by the cost of the SWCNT, the need for strong safety precautions in making large-scale test samples and the unknown environmental impact of demolished composite structures.
Partner
NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Science
Start/Completion Dates
This project started in 2003 and was completed in 2009.
Publications
Growth of cement hydration products on single walled carbon nanotubes
Makar, J.M. Chan, G.W.
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92 (6)
pp. 1303-1310. 2009-10-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Carbon nanotube/cement composites - early results and potential applications
Makar, J.M. Margeson, J.C. Luh, J.
3rd International Conference on Construction Materials: Performance, Innovation and Structural Implications (Vancouver, B.C., 2005-08-21)
pp. 1-10. 2005-08-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Carbon nanotubes and their application in the construction industry
Makar, J.M. Beaudoin, J.J.
1st International Symposium on Nanotechnology in Construction (Paisley, Scotland, 2003-06-22)
pp. 331-341. 2003-06-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
