High-performance cement mortars-based composites with colloidal nano-silica: Synthesis, characterization and mechanical properties

Abstract

In recent years, nanotechnology has found great application in the concrete and cement mortars industries. In this study, silica nanoparticles have been prepared in acidic solution via simple, low-cost, and efficient sol–gel methods. The effect of surfactant and calcination on the morphological properties of silica nanoparticles was investigated. The prepared silica nanoparticles are characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Prepared silica nanoparticles are introduced to cement mortars at different dosage and their effects on compressive and flexural strengths were studied. Results showed that 4% (%wt) have the highest improvement in cement mortars quality. The presence of 4% contents of silica nanoparticles in cement mortars increases the compressive strength by 10.54% in three days, 12.35% in one week, and 15.04% in 28 days. Flexural strengths are increased to 23.25% in three days, 9.45% in one week, and 18.40% in 28 days.