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Optimization of mechanical characteristics of cement mortar incorporating hybrid nano-sustainable powders

  • Hussein H. Zghair EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: August 12, 2024
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Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials
From the journal Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials Volume 33 Issue 1

Abstract

This research examines the impact of using hybrid nano-sustainable materials such as nano-silica and nano-slag, at three designated contents (2, 4, and 6%) by the cement weight. Mechanical and physical characteristics were studied at 7 and 28 ages. Overall, the experimental results showed the positive impacts of used hybrid nano-sustainable additives on fresh and hardened properties of modified cement mortar. The compressive strength of mortar containing nano-slag with 2, 4, and 6% enhanced as 11, 33, and 32% at 28 days, respectively, and correspondingly, direct tensile strength enhanced as 16, 39, and 30% at 28 days, respectively. Furthermore, the compressive strength of cement mortar containing 2, 4, and 6% of nano-silica improved by 20, 44, and 59% at 28 days, respectively. Besides direct tensile strength improved by 19, 37, and 46% at 28 days, respectively, as compared with reference cement mortar. The 4% nano-slag and the 6% nano-silica showed the optimum results of improvements of the compressive strength and direct tensile strength as 33 and 39% and 59 and 46% at 28 days, respectively. Hence, the optimization results of selected cement mortar comprising hybrid nano-sustainable materials as 6 wt% nano-silica and 4 wt% nano-slag produce a greater enhancement of mortar strength. Compressive and direct tensile strength improved by 73 and 53% at 28 days, respectively.

Keywords: nano-silica; nano-slag; FESEM; compressive strength; hybrid nano-sustainable

1 Introduction

Sustainability considers the first need for environmental inhabitation development; through the provision of natural resources, industrial products, and transportation energies. Construction and building materials are considered the best environment for recycling waste materials. Therefore, the selection of sustainable materials identifies an important strategy to design a new characteristic and use it as a developer for building materials. Such a large volume of blast furnace slag is formed as byproducts of steelmaking refractories. 20 million tons of slag is produced annually in Europe, which means large quantities are produced each year [1,2,3,4,5].

Recently, the nano-particles have four major effects: size, quantum, surface, and interface effects [6]. Therefore, due to their attractive effects, the addition of nano-powders to cement paste leads to enhance the properties and performance of mortar [7]. Some researches on adding nano-powders into cementitious materials were concluded; Aghabaglou et al. [8] explained that the addition of silica leads to increasing the compressive strength of mortar. Azeez et al. [9] used the recycling steel slag and waste glass in concrete characterizing a sustainability measure to produce the eco-friendly concrete. Hanash et al. [10] examined the compressive strength of cement mortar modified with types and contents of slag wastes at 15–40% of cement weight. Other studies explained that the compressive strength of concrete increased by approximately 21% at the age of 28 days with the addition of 3% of nano-silica [11]. Hosan and Shaikh [12] demonstrated the results of the incorporation of nano-CaCO3 in great content slag could improve compressive strength, less capillary pores, and a raised pores volume. Li et al. [13] studied the mechanical features of a cementitious composite containing nano- and micro-rutile phase TiO2; the results showed that the addition of 2.32 vol. 50 and 500 nm TiO2 improved the flexural/compressive ratio by 27.7/10.78 and 53.71/18.58%, respectively, at 28 days. Alnahhal et al. [14] investigated the effect of the addition of nano-cement kiln dust as a replacement of cement of mortar strength. Experimental results showed that the compressive strength of cement mortar improved by about 15–30% with partial replacement of O.P.C. by nano-cement clinker dust (CKD) compared with normal mortar without nano-CKD powders. Synthesis supplementary cementitious materials such as nano-silica, silica fume, meta kaolin, and flay ash have been used for different porous, for example, the addition of fly ash led to an increase in the compressive strength of mortar due to its pozzolanic reaction and chemical composition [15,16]. Ramezanianpour et al. [17] studied the impact of nano-silica and natural pozzolans on the structure of mortar samples in single, binary, and ternary blends. Mortar mixtures were prepared by using nano-silica with 2, 3, and 4% as replacement of cement mass and 15% with zeolite. Overall, the results show that the utilization of nano-silica and natural pozzolans leads to enhanced mechanical properties of cement mortar [18,19,20,21].

The main objective of this research is to optimum the mechanical properties, physical properties, and fresh properties of cement mortar incorporating hybrid nano-sustainable materials such as nano-silica and nano-slag, at three designated contents (2, 4, and 6%) by the cement weight. In addition, use the field emission scanning electron microscope equipment to investigate the microstructure of modified mortar with hybrid nano-sustainable materials.

2 Experimental work

2.1 Materials

In this work, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) type (I) conforming to the specification ASTM C150 [22] was used; the physical features and chemical analysis of OPC, nano-silica, and nano-slag materials were presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. The physical properties of nano-silica and nano-slag are presented in Table 3. Physical and chemical properties of fine aggregate conform with ASTM C 33, [23] as shown in Table 4. High range water reducing admixture was master glenium 54 type incorporated into all mixes to ensure good workability and no segregation, Master Glenium 54 based on modified polycarboxylic ether polymer manufacturing by (BASF) company with relative density 1.07 and conform to ASTM C 494 type F&G [24].

Table 1

Physical characteristics of used cement

Physical properties Result Limits of ASTM
Compressive strength of cement
3 days (MPa) 19.5 ≥12
7 days (MPa) 27.3 ≥19
Setting time (Vicat technique)
Initial setting (min) 87 ≥45
Final setting (min) 215 ≤375
Specific surface (m2/kg). 390 —
Expansion (autoclave), max (%) 0.04 ≤0.8
I.R. max (%) 0.34 0.75
L.S.F. (%) 0.73 —
L.O.I. max (%) 2.25 3
Table 2

Chemical properties of cement, nano-silica, and nano-slag

Components OPC wt% Nano-silica wt% Nano-slag wt%
SiO2 21.43 99.8 68.45
CaO 62.08 — 1.05
Fe2O3 3.75 — 4.7
Al2O3 5.85 — 19.83
SO3 2.08 — 0.02
MgO 4.55 — —
MnO 0.10 — 5.83
Table 3

Physical features of nano-silica and nano-slag

Property Nano-silica Nano-slag
Grain size nm 30 nm 60 nm
Tamped density (g/cm3) 0.08 0.10
Specific surface area (m2/g) 200 150
Strength activity index (%) 140 125
Table 4

Physical properties of fine aggregate

Property Results Limit of Iraq specification no. 45-1984
Maximum grain size 4.75 mm —
Specific gravity 2.64 —
Fineness modulus 2.57 —
Absorption 1.67% —
Sulfate content 0.074% ≤0.5% (max)

2.2 Mix proportions

Many trial mixtures were investigated, to get the suitable optimal mix percentages of cement mortar, which has fresh properties. The dry blending process was working in the research. The blending procedure used for producing optimal cement mortar was as follows:

  • Hand mix for preparation of the cement and nano-silica and/or nano-slag to obtain the appropriate dispersal of the mixture.

  • Add the sand particles whereas the mixer operates at low speed for 5 min.

  • Lastly, add the nano-silica and/or nano-slag mixed water to the mix consisting of cement and sand and then wait for 2 min. As well, mix by hand at first for 5 min, subsequently blending by mechanical blender for 10 min.

The proper mix design of reference mortar was taken as 1:3 (cement:sand) according to several trial mixes as shown in Table 5; water-to-cement ratio (W/C) is about (0.36); and superplasticizer was used in portion 0.92% by weight of W/C ratio as shown in Plate 1.

Table 5

Mix proportions and slump test results

Mix ID Cement (g) Sand (g) Water (ml) Superplasticiser Nano-powders (g) Flow value (mm)
Ref.Mix 400 1,200 152 0.92% — 247
MNS2 Added nano-slag 2% 8 241
MNS4 Added nano-slag 4% 16 238
MNS6 Added nano-slag 6% 24 235
KNS2 Added nano-silica 2% 8 240
KNS4 Added nano-silica 4% 16 236
KNS6 Added nano-silica 6% 24 230
MK6:4 Added nano-silica 6% + nano-slag 4% 40 231
Plate 1 (a–d) The preparation and mixing of raw materials used.
Plate 1

(a–d) The preparation and mixing of raw materials used.

2.3 Experimental tests

After mixing all proportions, workability is a very important characteristic of fresh mortar which is carried out by the flow table test according to ASTM C230 [25], which focuses on the flow table value of cement mortar involving the use of a cone mold, 60 mm height, 70 mm diameter at the top and 100 mm at the base. The cone is completed with cement mortar and raised upwards. The mortar is spread without any separation, also flow over the table. In addition, the consequential diameter of cement mortar is estimated in two perpendicular lengths. Then, mean is determined as the final diameter (mm) of mortar based on ASTM C230 [25]. Moreover, the experimental tests of hardened mortar were studied for 7 and 28 days, and physical properties including density porosity and water absorption were investigated based on ASTM C642 [26], as shown in Plate 2. The compressive strength and direct tensile strength of mortar were carried out based on ASTM C109M [27] and ASTM C190 [28], respectively, which involved three specimens for each mix, and were evaluated throughout the tests. However, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) test is used to predicate the micro-structure homogeneity of hardened mortar. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) practices a finely attentive beam of accelerated electrons. This beam is created under an ultra-high vacuum of not more than 10−6 Torr to avoid the scattering of electrons. This electron beam can penetrate the sample surface up to 3 μm. SEM has a set of electromagnetic lenses, which condense and focus the electron beam on the specimen surface. Different types of signals come out from the sample as a result of the interaction with the electron beam. Each of these signals is acquired from a specific location of the sample and can reveal many properties of the entire sample. The imaging signals mainly come from two types of reflected signals which are: secondary electrons (SEs) and backscatter electrons (BSEs). SE signals provide information about the profile of the sample surface, while BSE signals provide information about the composition of the sample.

Plate 2 (a–f) The casting and testing process of the mortar samples.
Plate 2

(a–f) The casting and testing process of the mortar samples.

3 Results and discussion

3.1 Flow table test

The fresh features of cement mortar containing nano-powder materials are summarized in Table 5 and Figure 1. Overall, the addition of nano-silica and nano-slag powder-to-cement mortar mixtures increases the surface area of fine aggregates, besides reducing water absorption leads to reduced workability values. The results showed that the flow diameter of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica was kept in the range of 241–235 and 240–230 mm, respectively.

Figure 1 Flow diameter of mortar mixes containing nano-powders.
Figure 1

Flow diameter of mortar mixes containing nano-powders.

3.2 Physical characteristics

The physical properties resulting from dry density, porosity, and water absorption for mortar containing nano-powder materials are shown in Figures 2–4, respectively. The bulk density of cement mortar improved with the increasing of nano-silica and nano-slag powders and also densified through curing duration, as associated with reference mortar. The water absorption and porosity values decreased with increasing nano-powders. Nano-particles are uniformly dispersed into the pores, micro-cracks, and voids, improving the compactness and microstructures of cement paste [29]. In addition, the pozzolanic reaction of nano-silica and nano-slag with portlandite, which formed during the hydration reaction of OPC, led to the production of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), which is the main component of strength and bulk density of the microstructure of mortar [30].

Figure 2 Dry density of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.
Figure 2

Dry density of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.

Figure 3 Total porosity of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.
Figure 3

Total porosity of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.

Figure 4 Water absorption of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.
Figure 4

Water absorption of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.

3.3 Compressive strength

Compressive strength results of mortar containing nano-powder additives are shown in Figure 5. The strength of the mortar was enhanced with curing duration, as associated with base cement mortar. The compressive strength of mortar improved with the addition of nano-additives. The chemical activation of nano-materials is useful for producing extra nucleation of CSH segments, which have an implementation on cement mortar strength. Nano-slag containing a mixture of cementitious and pozzolanic oxides such as SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and other oxides increased the hydration process and created smaller Ca hydrate. Nano-silica considers highly reactively pozzolanic materials and reacts with calcium hydroxide (CH) from cement to produce hydroxide silicate hydrate (CSH) [31].

Figure 5 Compressive strength of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.
Figure 5

Compressive strength of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.

3.4 Direct tensile strength

The results of cement mortar comprising of nano-materials are graphically represented in Figure 6. The results showed that the direct tensile strengths of mortar enhanced with the addition of nano-additives; besides, this behavior was improved with curing duration, as compared to reference mortar. This is due to the chemical reactivity of nano-materials useful for producing extra nucleation of CSH phase which has an implementation on mortar strengths. Nano-slag containing a mixture of cementitious and pozzolanic oxides such as SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and other oxides increases the hydration process and creates extra smaller CSH. Nano-silica considers highly reactive pozzolanic materials and reacts with CH from cement to form hydroxide silicate hydrate (CSH) [31,32]. As the result produced the thicker bond between cement paste and aggregates particles and enhanced tensile strength [33].

Figure 6 Direct tensile strength of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.
Figure 6

Direct tensile strength of mortar containing nano-slag and nano-silica.

3.5 Optimizing of samples

According to the experimental results, nano-slag with a percentage of 4% performed better than other percentage additives of nano-slag, while the 6% nano-silica performed better than other percentages of nano-silica. Therefore, 4% nano-slag + 6% nano-silica was established to be the optimal nano-additive ratio for producing mortar comprising hybrid nano-materials. The workability test of mortar with binary nano-materials was kept in the range of 231 mm. The properties as porosity and water absorption values were reduced associated with addition of hybrid nano-materials powders. Furthermore, hybrid nano-materials were uniformly dispersed into the pores, micro-cracks, and voids leading to improving the density and producing homogeneity microstructures of modified cement paste. The density, water absorption, and porosity results of mortar with hybrid nano-materials were 2040.12 kg/m3, 3.99, and 3.93% at 7 days and 2058.64 kg/m3, 3.09, and 2.87% at 28 days, respectively. The compressive strengths were 36.3 and 43.2 MPa at 7 and 28 days, respectively, whereas the direct tensile strengths were 1.68 and 1.81 MPa at 7 and 28 days, respectively, as shown in Figure 7. As indication to the chemical reaction of hybrid nano-materials with portlandite (Ca(OH)2), which produce during hydration process of cement paste, which generating extra nucleation of C–S–H gel which is the chief component of strength and density in the microstructure of mortar, beside to to fines particle size and chemical reactivity of hybrid nano-materials principal to production extra C.S.H. phase and have the capability to enhance the packing density of mortar, as agreed with reference [30].

Figure 7 Compressive and direct tensile strengths of mortar comprising binary nano-materials.
Figure 7

Compressive and direct tensile strengths of mortar comprising binary nano-materials.

3.6 FESEM

The microstructure homogeneity of hardened mortar containing nano-powder (6% nano-silica + 4% nano-slag) was determined by FESEM. Plate 3 explains the shape and size of nano-powder materials, while Plate 4 illuminates the microstructure of mortar with nano-powder materials. The matrix was found to be homogeneous and compressed, with few pores. Moreover, the production of the extra CSH products is acknowledged to generate a denser interfacial transition zone between the aggregate and cement paste. As indication to the that to pore refine the microstructure of modified cement mortar, besides attribute to improve the bonding and strengthening of the transition zone.

Plate 3 Nano-particle size of (a) nano-blast furnace slag and (b) nano-silica.
Plate 3

Nano-particle size of (a) nano-blast furnace slag and (b) nano-silica.

Plate 4 Microstructure homogeneity of mortar as (a) reference mortar and (b) mortar containing hybrid nano-materials (6% nano-silica + 4% nano-slag).
Plate 4

Microstructure homogeneity of mortar as (a) reference mortar and (b) mortar containing hybrid nano-materials (6% nano-silica + 4% nano-slag).

4 Conclusions

According to the experimental results of this work, the following conclusions could be drawn:

  1. The addition of nano-materials such as nano-silica and nano-slag enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of mortar in comparison with reference mortar.

  2. The mixing water increased with the addition of nano-powder content as 2, 4, and 6% by weight of cement. In contrast, the results presented that the flow table diameter values of cement mortar containing nano-powders were in the range of 230–250 mm.

  3. The density values of mortar improved with the increasing addition of nano-silica and nano-slag content, besides the densified with curing time, as compared with base mortar by 0.5, 0.8, and 1.5% and 0.3, 1.3, and 1.1%, respectively, at 28 days.

  4. The properties as porosity and water absorption values were reduced with addition of nano-silica and nano-slag content by (11.2, 17.4, 22.8)%, (12.8, 19.4, 27.2)% and (4.9, 18.7, 14.3)%, (2.5, 17.1, 13.1) at 28 days respectively, as likened to reference cement mortar. The modified cement mortar with 6% of nano-silica and 4% of nano-slag exhibited a greater value of reduction percentage of porosity and water absorption, besides a lower value of the porosity and water absorption at 28 days in comparison with the other types of modified cement.

  5. The compressive strength of mortar containing 2, 4, and 6% of nano-silica improved by 20, 44, and 59% at 28 days, respectively. Besides, direct tensile strength improved by 19, 37, and 46% at 28 days, respectively.

  6. The compressive strength of mortar containing nano-slag with 2, 4, and 6% was enhanced as 11, 33, and 32% at 28 days, respectively, and correspondingly, direct tensile strength was enhanced as 16, 39, and 30% at 28 days, respectively.

  7. The 6% nano-silica and the 4% nano-slag showed the optimum results of compressive strength and direct tensile strength by 59 and 33% and 46 and 39% at 28 days, respectively.

  8. Optimization results of selected mortar that comprising hybrid nano-materials (6 wt% nano-silica and 4 wt% nano-slag) produce a greater enhancement of compressive and direct tensile strength increased by 73 and 53% at 28 days, respectively.

  9. The homogeneity of the microstructure of hardened cement mortar containing hybrid nano-powders as nano-silica and nano-slag was enhanced in comparison with reference mortar. Hybrid nano-materials produce extra C–S–H, besides producing the microstructure of mortar, and are more homogeneous in comparison with reference mortar.

  1. Funding information: Author states no funding involved.

  2. Author contribution: The author confirms the sole responsibility for the conception of the study, presented results and manuscript preparation.

  3. Conflict of interest: Author states no conflict of interest.

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Received: 2024-02-23
Revised: 2024-05-06
Accepted: 2024-06-01
Published Online: 2024-08-12

© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2024-0008
Keywords for this article
nano-silica; nano-slag; FESEM; compressive strength; hybrid nano-sustainable
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Articles in the same Issue

  1. Research Articles
  2. Evaluation of the mechanical and dynamic properties of scrimber wood produced from date palm fronds
  3. Performance of doubly reinforced concrete beams with GFRP bars
  4. Mechanical properties and microstructure of roller compacted concrete incorporating brick powder, glass powder, and steel slag
  5. Evaluating deformation in FRP boat: Effects of manufacturing parameters and working conditions
  6. Mechanical characteristics of structural concrete using building rubbles as recycled coarse aggregate
  7. Structural behavior of one-way slabs reinforced by a combination of GFRP and steel bars: An experimental and numerical investigation
  8. Effect of alkaline treatment on mechanical properties of composites between vetiver fibers and epoxy resin
  9. Development of a small-punch-fatigue test method to evaluate fatigue strength and fatigue crack propagation
  10. Parameter optimization of anisotropic polarization in magnetorheological elastomers for enhanced impact absorption capability using the Taguchi method
  11. Determination of soil–water characteristic curves by using a polymer tensiometer
  12. Optimization of mechanical characteristics of cement mortar incorporating hybrid nano-sustainable powders
  13. Energy performance of metallic tubular systems under reverse complex loading paths
  14. Enhancing the machining productivity in PMEDM for titanium alloy with low-frequency vibrations associated with the workpiece
  15. Long-term viscoelastic behavior and evolution of the Schapery model for mirror epoxy
  16. Laboratory experimental of ballast–bituminous–latex–roving (Ballbilar) layer for conventional rail track structure
  17. Eco-friendly mechanical performance of date palm Khestawi-type fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites
  18. Isothermal aging effect on SAC interconnects of various Ag contents: Nonlinear simulations
  19. Sustainable and environmentally friendly composites: Development of walnut shell powder-reinforced polypropylene composites for potential automotive applications
  20. Mechanical behavior of designed AH32 steel specimens under tensile loading at low temperatures: Strength and failure assessments based on experimentally verified FE modeling and analysis
  21. Review Article
  22. Review of modeling schemes and machine learning algorithms for fluid rheological behavior analysis
  23. Special Issue on Deformation and Fracture of Advanced High Temperature Materials - Part I
  24. Creep–fatigue damage assessment in high-temperature piping system under bending and torsional moments using wireless MEMS-type gyro sensor
  25. Multiaxial creep deformation investigation of miniature cruciform specimen for type 304 stainless steel at 923 K using non-contact displacement-measuring method
  26. Special Issue on Advances in Processing, Characterization and Sustainability of Modern Materials - Part I
  27. Sustainable concrete production: Partial aggregate replacement with electric arc furnace slag
  28. Exploring the mechanical and thermal properties of rubber-based nanocomposite: A comprehensive review
  29. Experimental investigation of flexural strength and plane strain fracture toughness of carbon/silk fabric epoxy hybrid composites
  30. Functionally graded materials of SS316L and IN625 manufactured by direct metal deposition
  31. Experimental and numerical investigations on tensile properties of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic and self-reinforced polypropylene composites
  32. Influence of plasma nitriding on surface layer of M50NiL steel for bearing applications
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