STRENGTH AND BEHAVIOUR OF

CARBON NANOTUBE
REINFORCED CEMENT
COMPOSITES
Guided by
Dr. Bindhu K R
RESMA
RAJENDRAN NAIR
M1 Structural
Engineering
Roll No. 141092

INTRODUCTION
Idea behind nano-science started at a talk
entitled Theres plenty of room at the bottom
by physicist Richard Feynman in 1959.
Nano-science

involves

ability

to

control

individual atoms and molecules

Size

range 1-100 nanometers(nm)

One

nanometer is a billionth of a meter

sheet of paper is about 1,00,000 nm thick

Two main approaches:

Top down approach
Materials are deconstructed
to nano scale
Maintains original material properties
Bottom up approach
Materials are engineered from atoms
through self assembly
Molecular manufacturing
3

 Large

surface area
Physical, chemical, optical and mechanical
properties change
Inert materials may become reactive, some
may conduct heat or electricity better,
some even change colour

COMMON NANO MATERIALS

1. Carbon Nanotubes
Cylindrical
Efficient

shape

thermal conductors

Improves

flexural, shear and compressive

strength when added to cement composites

Also

improves durability, resistance to

corrosion and crack formation

5

2. Silver nanoparticles
Upon contact with bacteria, viruses, etc.,
their cellular metabolism is affected
Used for odour control
3. Titanium Dioxide
White pigment
Excellent reflective coating
Added to paints, cement etc., for its
sterilizing properties
Also used to remove organic pollutants
when applied to outdoor surfaces

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Concrete
Addition of nano-silica reduces
permeability of water
Carbon nanotubes improve compressive
strength and flexural strength of cement
mortar
Nano sensors used for damage detection

Steel
Addition of copper nano particles reduces
surface unevenness of steel
Vanadium and molybdenum nanoparticles

Glass
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles impart self
cleansing properties
Breaks down organic pollutants washed
away by rain
Fumed silica nanoparticles impart fire
protection

Structural Monitoring
Nano-sensors embedded into concrete
during construction phase
Used to monitor structural performance of
concrete

CARBON NANOTUBES

Hollow

tubular channels formed by single or

multiple walls of rolled graphene sheets
Ends capped by half fullerene molecules
Weak inter-planar bonds
Allows tubes to slide within one another
Main force acting is van der Waals force

 Atomic

structure is based on tube chirality

zigzag shaped zero chirality
arm chair shaped chiral angle of 30

10

MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES
CNTs

have a hollow center therefore

it is light
Youngs Modulus 1TPa
Average tensile strength 60GPa
Average ultimate strain 12%
Density 1.3-1.4g/cc
Aspect ratio 25,00,000:1
No. of walls 3 to 15
11

METHODS OF
SYNTHESIS
Electric arc discharge
Electric arc passed between two carbon
electrodes through an inert gas like argon
or helium
High temperature causes carbon to
sublimate and re-solidify into CNT
Advantages
Purity of 30% by weight
can be achieved
Single and multi-walled carbon
nanotubes can be produced

12

Laser ablation technique

pulsing laser is used to vaporize a piece of

graphite within an inert gas inside a furnace
at 1200C
Vaporized graphite solidifies onto walls of
chamber and forms CNT
Advantage
Upto 70% purity by weight may be achieved

13

Disadvantages
Expensive process
Continuous production not possible
Additional purification processes are
necessary

14

Chemical Vapor Deposition

CNTs

produced by decomposition of a carbon

containing gas
Carbon based gas with a metal catalyst used
as initiator
Advantages
High purity can be achieved
Low cost per unit rate
Continuous production of CNTs possible
Method used widely for up-scale to industrial

15

REQUIREMENTS FOR A GOOD CNT

REINFORCEMENT
Good dispersion

CNTs have increased chances of agglomerating

due to strong Van der Waals forces

Causes non uniform stress transfer

Uniform alignment of nano-filaments

Nano-filaments aligned perpendicular to

primary stresses cant efficiently transfer stress
along its axis

16

Large aspect ratio

Large surface area improves bond between

cement and nano-filaments

Optimal bond

Proper adhesion required to prevent sliding of

nano-filaments out of the cement matrix.

17

DISPERSION
TECHNIQUES
Physical Techniques
Ultrasonication
Mechanical vibrations are created in the liquid
medium
Causes formation and collapse of microscopic
bubbles
High level of energy is released leading to
dispersion of nano materials in the liquid

18

Chemical Techniques
Use of surfactants
Dispersion

improved by repulsion between

surfactant molecules adsorbed in nano

particles
Dispersion

capability depends on

Surfactant
Optimum

concentration

surfactant to nano- material ratio

19

INSTRUMENTATION
METHODS
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
SEM scans a focused electron beam over a
surface to create an image
Electrons in the beam interact with sample
producing varying signals
Main components include:
1. A sample chamber
Samples are placed here
Includes translation stage, tilt and rotation
devices

20

2. A source of electron
These electrons are accelerated to 1-40kv
and condensed to a narrow beam
3. A column down which electrons travel
Electrons are accelerated down through
a combination of lenses and apertures
Electrons hit surface of sample
4. An electron detector
Detects the resulting signals
5. Computers and displays to view the
images

21

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM)

Works

by moving a very sharp metal wire over

the required surface
The tip is brought very close to the surface
Electric voltage is applied to the sample/tip

22

Quantum mechanical effect and tunneling

Feed back loop
Monitors the tunneling current and positions the
tip to maintain a constant current
These adjustments are recorded by the computer
Based on this, surface image can be developed
Disadvantage
Only conducting or semi conducting surfaces can
be imaged
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Atomic

Force Microscopy (AFM)

All types of surfaces including polymers, ceramics, glass

etc. can be imaged
Laser beam is deflected from a
reflective AFM lever onto a
position sensitive detector

Force between tip and sample is measured based on

deflection of lever
F -force, k -stiffness of the lever and z - distance the
lever is
bent

24
Based on these data, sample surface can be reconstructed

CASE STUDIES
Nur and Vinoth (2014) conducted comparative
studies on compressive strength, flexural
strength and flow values of cement mortar
reinforced with CNTs and Carbon nano-fibres
(CNFs)
OPC compressive strength - 24MPa
Water cement ratios (w/c) - 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5
Dosage rates - 0.1% and 0.2% CNT/CNFs by
weight of sample
Super plasticizer added in the ratio 0.008 by
25
weight

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
ASTM

C109 test procedure adopted

Mortar

prepared with 1 part cement and 2.75 parts

graded sand
After

sonication, nanoparticles were mixed with

cement and sand for 4 min

50mm

cube cement mortars were prepared

Compressive

strength of cubes tested at 7, 14, and

28 days using UTM at the rate of 890 to 1800 N/s

26

Source: Nur and Vinoth,

2014

27

FLEXURAL STRENGTH
ASTM

C348 test procedure followed

40mm40mm160mm
28

sample

day flexural strength was tested

Three

point loading test conducted at the

rate of 2640110N

28

Source: Nur and Vinoth,

2014

29

FLOW TEST

ASTM

C1437 test procedure used to obtain the

flow value of mortar
Mortar placed 25mm from bottom of mould
Compacted 20 times in 2 layers, flushed smooth
at top
Flow mould was removed and flow table
30
dropped 25 times in 15 seconds
Percentage increase in base diameter obtained

Source: Nur and Vinoth,

2014

31

Madhavi et al. conducted studies on strength

characteristics and durability of concrete
reinforced with multi walled nanotubes in ratios of
0.015%, 0.03% and 0.045% by weight of cement.
W/c ratio of 0.4 was used
Cubes of 150150150mm
Cylindrical specimens of 150mm diameter and
300mm height were prepared
Surfactants at 0.25% by weight of cement
Sonication was carried out for 30 minutes and
stirred by magnetic stirrer

32

WATER ABSORPTION TEST

ASTM C6428 followed
Water absorption test was carried out at 28
days
%

Sl
No.

1
2
3
4

% of
MWCNT

% reduction
water
in water
absor
absorption
ption

Convention
al concrete
(0)
0.5873
0.015
0.5273
0.03
0.5027
Source: Madhavi
et al.,
2013
0.045
0.483

10.22
14.41
17.76

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SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH

Split

tensile strength tests were carried out as per

IS 5816-1999
Cylindrical specimen of height 300mm and
diameter 150mm Breaking load and failure
Split
Split
patterns noted
Specimen
Conventio
nal
concrete
0.015%
MWCNT
0.030%
MWCNT
0.045%
MWCNT

tensile
failure
load (kN)

tensile
strength
(N/mm2)

160

2.27

210

2.97

30.84

235

3.3

45.37

Source:
et al.,
265 Madhavi3.775
2013

% increase

66.3

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CONCLUSIONS
Nanoparticles

have tendency to agglomerate

Thus efficient dispersion techniques must be
employed
Addition

of CNTs at 0.1% by weight of cement attained

54% and 14% higher compressive and flexural
strengths than PCC

Split

tensile strength increases (66.3%) and water

absorption(17.76%) reduces with addition of 0.045% by
weight of MWCNTs

Flow

tests indicate that compressive strengths of

composites increased with higher flow rates

35

INTERPRETATION BY
AUTHOR

Mechanical properties of concrete is improved by

addition of CNTs

Durability and corrosion resistance of concrete and

reinforcing steel are also increased

However, for proper utilisation of these

advantages, CNTs must be dispersed uniformly in
the cement matrix

Preparation of CNT reinforced composites must be36

carried out with utmost care

 Also

techniques for mass production of CNTs at

lower costs must be developed

Environmental

effects of CNT synthesis and

CNT reinforced composites must be studied

If

properly utilized, CNTs have a great potential

to revolutionize the traditional practices
followed in the construction industry.
37

Baoguo,

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Thank You

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