NOIDA INSTITUTE OF

EINGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

NANO CONCRETE

NAME – RAHUL SINGH

ROLL NO – 1513300120
YEAR – 4TH

DATE OF SUBMISSION

15 NOV 2018

1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

With immense please I, Rahul Singh presenting “NANO CONCRETE” seminar

report as part of curriculum of ‘Civil Engineering’. I wish to thanks all the people who gave me
unending support.

I express my profound thanks to seminar guide Mr. Siddhartha Jain. And all of
those who have indirectly guided and helped me in preparation of this seminar.

2
TABLE OF CONTENT

1. ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………….5
2. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………….6
3. NANO CONCRETE………………………………………………………………………..7
a. WHY NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CONCRETE? ....................................................8
b. BENEFITS OF NANO CONCRETE……………………………………………........9
4. STATE-OF-THE-ART……………………………………………………………………..10
a. CEMENT HYDRATION KINETICS CONCRETE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY...10
b. CEMENT REACTIVITY NANO STRUCTURE…………………………………….10
5. NANO MATERIALS……………………………………………………….……………...11
a. CARBON NANO TUBES…………………………………………….……………...11
i. Single Walled CNT and its Dimension……………………………….…………….12
b. PROPERTIES…………………………………………………………….…………..12
i. CNTs Electrical Conductivity……………………………………………………....12
ii. CNTs Strength and Elasticity………………………………………………………12
iii. CNTs Thermal Conductivity and Expansion………………………………………12
6. NANO SILICA……………………………………………………………………………13
a. PROPERTIES……………………………………………………………………….13
i. Physical and Chemical Properties…………………………………………………14
ii. Fresh Properties…………………………………………………………………………...14
iii. Mechanical Properties…………………………………………………………….14
iv. Durability properties………………………………………………………………14
7. APPLICATIONS…………………………………………………………………………15
8. POLYCARBOXYLATES……………………………………………………………….15
a. Functions……………………………………………………………………………15
b. Chemical structure………………………………………………………………….16
c. Working mechanisms………………………………………………………………16
9. SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES……………………………………..17
a. Cement composites…………………………………………………………………17
10. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………18
11. REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………19

3
LIST OF FIGURES

S.NO NAME OF THE FIGURE FIGURE NO. PAGE NO

1 Scale of Various Constituents & a Typical Applications 1 9
2 Details of Hydrating cement Grain at Nano scale 2 10
3 Diagram of Carbon Nano Tubes 3 11
4 Nano Silica 4 13
5 Microscopic Image of Nano Silica 5 13
6 Comparison of the concrete density with or without silica 6 15
7 Molecular Diagram of Polycarboxylate 7 16

4
 ABSTRACT

Everything on Earth is made up of atoms—the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the buildings and
houses we live in, and our own bodies. Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science related to
the understanding and control of matter at the Nano scale, i.e., at dimensions between
approximately 1 and 100 nm. Nano-technology is one of the most active research areas which has
wide applications in almost all the fields like electronics, bio-mechanics, coatings, civil
engineering and construction materials. Nanoscale particles are not new in either nature or science.
Matter can exhibit unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties at the Nanoscale, differing
in important ways from the properties of bulk materials and single atoms or molecules. They may
become more chemically reactive or reflect light better or change color as their size or structure is
altered.

5
 CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION

Of particular relevance for concrete is the greatly increased surface area of particles at the Nano
scale. As the surface area per mass of a material increases, a greater amount of the material can
come into contact with surrounding materials, thus affecting reactivity.

If cement with Nano-size particles can be manufactured and processed, it will open up a large
number of opportunities in the fields of ceramics, high strength composites and electronic
applications. This will elevate the status of Portland cement to a high tech material in addition to
its current status of the most widely used construction material. Very few inorganic cementing
materials can match the capabilities of Portland cement in terms of cost and availability.

Currently, the most active research areas dealing with cement and concrete are: understanding of
the hydration of cement particle sand the use of Nano-size ingredients such as alumina and silica
particles.

Thus the basic concept behind Nano modification of materials is that of bottom-up engineering,
starting with engineered modifications to the molecular structure with an aim to affect the bulk
properties of the material. Conceptually, this is simply an imitation of nature. In practice, the
introduction of nanotechnology represents a revolution that is allowing for the development of
high-performance and long-lasting products and processes within an ideal context of sustainable
development.

6
 CHAPTER-2 NANO CONCRETE

Nano-concrete is defined as a concrete made with Portland cement particles that are less than 500
Nano-meters as the cementing agent. Currently cement particle sizes range from a few Nano-
meters to a maximum of about100 micro meters. In the case of micro-cement the average particle
size is reduced to 5 micrometers. An order of magnitude reduction is needed to produce Nano-
cement.

WHY NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CONCRETE?

1) Development of high-performance cement and concrete materials as measured by their

mechanical and durability properties;
2) Development of sustainable concrete materials and structures through engineering for
different adverse environments, reducing energy consumption during cement production, and
enhancing safety;
3) Development of intelligent concrete materials through the integration of nanotechnology-
based self-sensing and self-powered materials and cyber infrastructure technologies;
4) Development of novel concrete materials through nanotechnology-based innovative
processing of cement and cement paste; and
5) Development of fundamental multi scale model(s) for concrete through advanced
characterization and modeling of concrete at the Nano-, micro- and macro scales.
6) Improves the material’s bulk properties.
7) Ability to control or manipulate materials at the atomic scale.
8) To obtain thinner final products and faster setting time.
9) Cost effectiveness.
10) Lowered levels of environmental contamination.

BENEFITS OF NANO CONCRETE

1) Concrete is stronger, lighter and more durable.

2) Concrete with good workability.
3) Lower cost per building site.
4) Cessation of contamination caused by micro silica solid particles.
5) Concrete with high initial and final compressive and tensile strengths.
6) Cessation of super plasticizing utilization.
7) Cessation of silicosis risk.

7
 CHAPTER-3 STATE-OF-THE-ART

CONCRETE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

One can claim that concrete utilizes nanotechnology because it contains Nano-particles as
ingredients including Nano-water particles and Nano-air voids. However, to claim the use of
nanotechnology, we should be able to control the amount and the locations of these Nano-
ingredients inside the final products. The scales of various constituent materials of concrete are
shown in Fig. 1. If we can create chemical or mechanical tools to control Nano-scale pores and the
placement of calcium-silicate hydration products then concrete becomes a product of
nanotechnology.

Current research activities of nanotechnology in concrete include: characterization of cement

hydration, influence of the addition of Nano-size silica to concrete, synthesis of cement using
Nano-particles and coatings (that contain Nano-size particles) applied to protect concrete. These
activities are briefly described in the following sections.

CEMENT REACTIVITY NANO STRUCTURE

A collaborative research activity supported by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NSF
is being conducted at University of Connecticut to study cement hydration at a Nano-scale level.
In this study US and German scientists are using nuclear resonance reaction analysis (NRRA) to
investigate what takes place on the surface of the cement particle as it hydrates. A beam of nitrogen
atoms is used to probe a reacting cement grain to locate hydrogen atoms, a necessary component
of water, or reaction by-products. Location of these hydrogen atoms are used to create a hydrogen
depth profile, which shows the rate of water penetration as well as the arrangement of various
surface layers formed during the reaction. The researchers identified four components that are
active during cement hydration, Fig.2. The following section provides a short summary of their
observations. The 20-nanometer-thick semi-permeable surface layer allows water to enter the
cement grain and leaches out calcium ions. The larger silicate ions in the cement are trapped behind
this layer. As the reaction continues, a silicate gel forms there, causing swelling within the cement
grain. This leads to eventual breakdown of the outermost layer. The surface disintegration then
releases accumulated silicate into the surrounding solution. The silicate reacts with calcium ions
to form a calcium-silicate hydrate gel, which binds cement grains together and sets the concrete.
The evolution of the hydrogen profile shows the timing of the surface layer's breakdown. This
information can be used to study the concrete setting process as a function of time, temperature,
8
cement chemistry, and other factors. For example, researchers used NRRA to determine that in
cement hydrating at 30°C (86°F); the breakdown occurs at 1.5 hours.

9
 CHAPTER-4 NANO MATERIALS

CARBON NANO TUBES

1. Nano tubes are the members of the fullerene structural family. They align themselves into
“ropes” held together by van der Waals forces.
2. Carbon nanotubes are molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon with outstanding properties.
3. They can be several millimeters in length and they can have one “layer” or wall (single walled
Nanotube) or more than one wall (multi walled Nanotube).

The addition of Nano fine particles can improve the properties of concrete due to the effect
increased surface area has on reactivity and through filling the Nano pores of the cement paste.
Nano silica and Nano titanium dioxide are probably the most reported additives used in Nano
modified concrete. Nanomaterial’s can improve the compressive strength and ductility of concrete.
Carbon Nanotubes or Nano fibers (CNT-CNF) have also been used to modify strength, modulus

SINGLE WALLED CARBON NANO TUBES MULTI WALLED CARBON NANO TUBE

and ductility of concretes. CNFs can act as bridges across voids and cracks that ensure load transfer
in tension. Durability of concretes can also be improved through reduced permeability and
improved shrinkage properties. These effects can be accomplished through Nano modified
cements or the use of Nano developed additives to the paste.

10
Single Walled CNT and its Dimension

Single layer Nano-tube can be considered as the perfect thin walled cylinder because of the
uniformity in thickness, accurate geometry and linear elastic material behavior. The challenge is
to test them to obtain strength, stiffness and stability properties. A number of techniques are
being developed to use electro-mechanical devices to induce force and measure responses. The
forces are measured in Nano Newton’s and the displacements are measured in fractions of Nano
meters.

Transmission electron microscopy studies indicate that these tubes look like nested shells with an
interlayer spacing of about 0.34 nm. The equivalent diameter of the tubes is in the range of 10 to
50nm. The typical length varies from 100 to 1000nm. Single layer tube has a much smaller
diameter (1 to 3 nm) and length (about 300 nm).

PROPERTIES

CNTs Electrical Conductivity

There has been considerable practical interest in the conductivity of CNTs. CNTs with particular
combinations of N and M (structural parameters indicating how much the Nanotube is twisted)
can be highly conducting, and hence can be said to be metallic. Their conductivity has been
shown to be a function of their chirality (degree of twist), as well as their diameter. CNTs can be
either metallic or semi-conducting in their electrical behavior.

CNTs Strength and Elasticity

The carbon atoms of a single (graphene) sheet of graphite form a planar honeycomb lattice, in
which each atom is connected via a strong chemical bond to three neighboring atoms. Because of
these strong bonds, the basal-plane elastic modulus of graphite is one of the largest of any known
material. For this reason, CNTs are expected to be the ultimate high-strength fibers. SWNTs are
stiffer than steel, and are very resistant to damage from physical forces. Pressing on the tip of a
Nanotube will cause it to bend, but without damage to the tip. When the force is removed, the
tip returns to its original state.

CNTs Thermal Conductivity and Expansion

Research suggests that these exotic strands, already heralded for their unparalleled strength and
unique ability to adopt the electrical properties of eitherSemiconductors or perfect metals, may
someday also find applications as miniature heat conduits in a host of devices and materials. The
strong in-plane graphitic C-C bonds make them exceptionally strong and stiff against axial
strains.

11
 CHAPTER-5 NANO SILICA

Is the first Nano product that replaced the micro silica. The Nano silica powder is one of the
blended material. Studies have shown the existence of silica powder, in the early cement
hydration product Ca (OH) 2 content along with the growth of the age becoming less and less,
even complete reacted, generate new material which will jam channel, big pores will less,
cohesion between aggregate and plaster will be strengthen, compactness will be improved.

Advancement made by the study of concrete at Nano scale have proved Nano silica much better
than silica used in conventional concrete, but engineering experience shows that as with silicon
powder, also bring two problems, on the one hand is the cohesiveness increase of concrete to
construction cause certain difficult, on the other hand is shrinkage rate increases can lead early
crack.

NANO SILICA MICROSCOPIC IMAGE OF NANO SILICA

PROPERTIES

Fresh Properties

Reduced setting times were observed by various researchers on incorporation of Nano-silica in concrete
which is same as observed for pastes and mortar. Also, decrease in initial and final setting time was
observed on incorporation of nS in various quantities, with increase in viscosity and yield stress reported.

Mechanical Properties

Concrete strength is influenced by lots of factors like concrete ingredients, age, ratio of water to
cement materials, etc. Nano-silica incorporation into concrete resulted in higher compressive
strength than that of normal concrete to a considerable level. Li et al. (2004) reported 3-day
compressive strength increase by 81% and also at later stages, same trend was observed with 4%
Nano-silica in high volume fly ash concrete. Naji Givi, Abdul Rashid, Aziz, and Salleh (2010)
12
also reported higher compressive strength at all ages, for Nano-silica blended concretes up to
maximum limit of 2% with average particle size of 15 and 80 nm. Same results were obtained for
split tensile and flexural strength. An increase of about 23–38% and 7–14% at 7 days and 28
days, respectively, in compressive strength of Nano-silica concrete was reported, whereas low
increase of 9.4% (average) was reported for flexural strength.

Durability properties

Durability properties of concrete include aspects such as permeability, pore structure and particle
size distribution, resistance to chloride penetration, etc. Investigations on Nano-silica concrete
for its permeability characteristics showed that the addition of Nano-silica in concrete resulted in
reduction in water absorption, capillary absorption, rate of water absorption, and coefficient of
water absorption and water permeability than normal concrete. The pore structure determines the
transport properties of cement paste, such as permeability and ion migration. Reduction in water
absorption, capillary absorption, rate of water absorption and water permeability has been
observed by various researchers (Li, 2004; Zhang & Li, 2011; Zhang et al., 2012).

13
 CHAPTER-6 APPLICATIONS

1. High compressive strength concretes.

2. High workability with reduced water/content ratio.
3. Use of super plasticizing additives is unnecessary.
4. Fills up all the micro pores and micro spaces.
5. Cement saving up to 35-40%.
6. As an additive for rubber and plastics
7. As a strengthening filler for concrete and other construction composites

14
 CHAPTER-7 POLYCARBOXYLATES

Polycarboxylates or polymer based concrete admixtures are high range water reducing admixture
(HRWR) without affecting workability. Superplasticizers, also known as high range water
reducers, are chemical admixtures used where well-dispersed particle suspension is required.
These polymers are used as dispersants to avoid particle segregation (gravel, coarse and fine
sands), and to improve the flow characteristics (rheology) of suspensions such as in concrete
applications.

Functions

Their addition to concrete or mortar allows the reduction of the water to cement ratio, not
affecting the workability of the mixture, and enables the production of self-consolidating
concrete and high performance concrete. The strength of concrete increases when the water to
cement ratio decreases.

High range water reducing (HRWRA) / superplasticizing admixtures are synthetic, water-soluble
organic chemicals, usually polymers, which significantly reduce the amount of water required to
achieve a given consistency in plastic concrete. This effect can be utilized in two ways:

1. To reduce water content to achieve increased strength and reduced permeability/improved

durability.
2. To achieve increased workability at the same water content.

Chemical structure

PCEs (Polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer) are composed by a methoxy-polyethylene glycol

copolymer (side chain) grafted with methacrylic acid copolymer (main chain). The carboxylate
group -COO-Na+ dissociates in water, providing a negative charge along the PCE backbone

Working mechanisms

PCE's backbone, which is negatively charged, permits the adsorption on the positively charged colloidal
particles. As a consequence of PCE adsorption, the zeta potential of the suspended particles changes, due
to the adsorption of the COO- groups on the colloid surface. This displacement of the polymer on the
particle surface ensures to the side chains the possibility to exert repulsion forces, which disperse the
particles of the suspension and avoid friction. These forces can be directly detected by the use of the
atomic force microscopy (AFM), working with model substances in liquid environment.

15
 CHAPTER-8 SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Cement composites

If Portland cement can be formulated with Nano-size cement particles, it will open up a large
number of opportunities. For example, the cement can be used as an inorganic adhesive with
carbon fibers. Currently the micron size cement particles are not conducive for use with 7 micron
diameter carbon fibers. The cement will not only be more economical than organic polymers but
also will be fire resistant. In addition it will not emit any volatile organic compounds (voc) and
the composites can be attached to parent concrete substrate using a compatible adhesive. It will
be also very competitive with current inorganic composites because they have to be processed at
high temperature.

The primary challenge is to manufacture Nano-size cement particles. Chemical vapor deposition
shows promise. Other avenue is high tech grinding. The second challenge is the heat of
hydration. Special organic and inorganic additives need to be developed to control the setting
and heat of hydration. Even though this is a risky and tough venture, the authors believe that the
risk is worth taking.

16
 CHAPTER-9 CONCLUSION

Large amounts of funds and effort are being utilized to develop nanotechnology. Even though
cement and concrete may constitute only a small part of this overall effort, research in this area
could pay enormous dividends in the areas of technological breakthroughs and economic
benefits.

Current efforts are focused on understanding cement particle hydration, Nano-size silica and
sensors. Unique opportunity exists for the development of Nano-cement that can lead to major
long standing contributions.

1. Well dispersed Nano particles increase the viscosity of the liquid phase, improves the
segregation resistance and workability of the system.
2. Accelerates the hydration.
3. Better bond between aggregates and cement paste.
4. Improves the toughness, shear, tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete.

17
 REFERENCES

1. Mechanics properties of Nano silica Material concrete by Saloma1, Amrinsyah Nasution,

Iswandi Imran and Mikrajuddin Abdullah.
2. Zhand and Islam 2012; Zhang, Islam, & Peethamparan, 2012.
3. Nazi, Givi, Abdul Rashid, Aziz & Salleh (2010).
4. Strength and Shrinkage Property of Nano Silica Powder Concrete by Hongxia Yang
5. Heidari & Tavakoli (2013).
6. Li, 2004, Zhang & Li, 2011; Zhang Et al, 2012.
7. Cement admixtures Association www.admixtures.org.uk.
8. Wikipedia.
9. Silicon Dioxide, Silica (SiO2) Nanoparticles – Properties, Applications from
http://www.azonano.com/.
10. Nano Technology and Concrete research Opportunities: Perumalsamy Balaguru and Ken
Chong National Science Foundation, USA.

18