Effect of nano silica addition on enhancing the performance of cement composites reinforced with nano cellulose fibers

Mohamed Samy El-Feky; Passant Youssef; Ahmed Maher El-Tair; Sara Ibrahim; Mohamed Serag; Mohamed Samy El-Feky; Passant Youssef; Ahmed Maher El-Tair; Sara Ibrahim; Mohamed Serag

doi:10.3934/matersci.2019.6.864

AIMS Materials Science

2019, Volume 6, Issue 6: 864-883. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2019.6.864

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Research article

Effect of nano silica addition on enhancing the performance of cement composites reinforced with nano cellulose fibers

1.
Department of Civil Engineering, National Research Centre, Egypt
2.
Civil Engineering Department, German University in Cairo, Egypt
3.
Civil Engineering Department, Cairo University, Egypt

Received: 17 July 2019 Accepted: 17 September 2019 Published: 27 September 2019

The utilization of cellulose nano fibers (NCell) as reinforcement to cement composites may account for enhancing particle packing and decreasing the crack growth at the nano level. Besides that, their high specific surface area can improve the bond between the cement hydration products. nano silica particles can also influence the performance of fiber reinforced cement composites through increasing the calcium-silicate-hydrate gel content, as well as enhancing the fiber to matrix interface cohesion. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of different contents of nano silica particles (0, 1, 1.5, and 2% by weight of cement) on the mechanical properties, and microstructure of cement composites reinforced with various contents of nano cellulose fibers (0, 0.35, 0.55, and 0.75% by weight of cement). The results out of studying such nano systems revealed that the addition of the NCell particles separately, helped in improving the tensile strength by about twice the value of the control mix when appropriate content of NCell was incorporated (0.35%). Moreover, the microstructural analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of nano silica particles to modify the transition zone between the nano cellulose fiber and the cementitious matrix and subsequently allowing greater reinforcement efficiency especially when external compression or tensile forces were transferred to the composite.
- nano silica,
- nano cellulose fibers,
- EDAX,
- SEM,
- XRD,
- mechanical properties
Citation: Mohamed Samy El-Feky, Passant Youssef, Ahmed Maher El-Tair, Sara Ibrahim, Mohamed Serag. Effect of nano silica addition on enhancing the performance of cement composites reinforced with nano cellulose fibers[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2019, 6(6): 864-883. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2019.6.864

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Abstract

The utilization of cellulose nano fibers (NCell) as reinforcement to cement composites may account for enhancing particle packing and decreasing the crack growth at the nano level. Besides that, their high specific surface area can improve the bond between the cement hydration products. nano silica particles can also influence the performance of fiber reinforced cement composites through increasing the calcium-silicate-hydrate gel content, as well as enhancing the fiber to matrix interface cohesion. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of different contents of nano silica particles (0, 1, 1.5, and 2% by weight of cement) on the mechanical properties, and microstructure of cement composites reinforced with various contents of nano cellulose fibers (0, 0.35, 0.55, and 0.75% by weight of cement). The results out of studying such nano systems revealed that the addition of the NCell particles separately, helped in improving the tensile strength by about twice the value of the control mix when appropriate content of NCell was incorporated (0.35%). Moreover, the microstructural analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of nano silica particles to modify the transition zone between the nano cellulose fiber and the cementitious matrix and subsequently allowing greater reinforcement efficiency especially when external compression or tensile forces were transferred to the composite.

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