Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of SiO2 nanoparticles derived from hydrothermal solutions on the performance of portland cement based materials

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The nanoparticles of SiO2 were used in cement systems to modify the rheological behavior, to enhance the reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials, and also to improve the strength and durability. In this research, low-cost nano-SiO2 particles from natural hydrothermal solutions obtained by membrane ultrafiltration and, optionally, by cryochemical vacuum sublimation drying, were evaluated in portland cement based systems.

The SiO2-rich solutions were obtained from the wells of Mutnovsky geothermal power station (Far East of Russia). The constant nano-SiO2 dosage of 0.25% (as a solid material by weight of cementitious materials) was used to compare the cement systems with different nanoparticles against a reference mortar and a commercially available nano-SiO2. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), BET Surface Area, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. It was demonstrated that the addition of polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer and the dispersion treatment using an ultrasound processor can be used to facilitate the distribution of nano-SiO2 particles in the mixing water. The effect of nano-SiO2 particles in portland cement mortars was investigated by evaluating the flow, heat of hydration and compressive strength development. It was demonstrated that the use of nano-SiO2 particles can reduce the segregation and improve strength properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Björnström J, Panas I. Antagonistic effect of superplasticizer and colloidal nano-silica in the hydration of alite and belite pastes. Journal of Materials Science, 2007, 11(42): 3901–3907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Collepardi M, Ogoumah J, Skarp U, Troli R. Influence of Amorphous Colloidal Silica on the Properties of Self-Compacting Concretes. In: Proceedings of the International Conference, Challenges in Concrete Construction- Innovations and Developments in Concrete Materials and Construction, Dundee, UK, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ye Q, Zhang Z, Kong D, Chen R. Influence of nano-SiO2 addition on properties of hardened cement paste as compared with silica fume. Construction & Building Materials, 2007, 21(3): 539–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Flores-Vivian I, Sobolev K, Torres-Martinez L, Cuellar E, Valdez P, Zarazua E. Performance of Cement Systems with Nano- SiO2 Particles Produced Using Sol-gel Method. Transportation Research Record, 2010, 1: 10–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sobolev K. Modern developments related to nanotechnology and nanoengineering of concrete. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2016, 10(2): 131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Potapov V, Shitikov E, Trutnev N, Gorbach V, Portnyagin N. Influence of Silica Nanoparticles on the Strength Characteristics of Cement Samples. Glass Physics and Chemistry, 2001, 1(37): 98–105

    Google Scholar 

  7. Moini M, Flores-Vivian I, Amirjanov A, Sobolev K. The optimization of aggregate blends for sustainable low cement concrete. Construction & Building Materials, 2015, 93: 627–634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Langan B, Weng K, Ward M. Effect of silica fume and fly ash on heat of hydration of portland cement. Cement and Concrete Research, 2002, 32(7): 1045–1051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Flores-Vivian I, Pradoto R, Moini M, Sobolev K. The use of nanoparticles to improve the performance of concrete. In: Nano Conference, Brno, Czech Republic, EU, 2013

    Google Scholar 

  10. Björnström J, Martinelli A, Matic A, Börjesson L, Panas I. Accelerating effects of colloidal nano-silica for beneficial calcium–silicate–hydrate formation in cement. Chemical Physics Letters, 2004, 392(1–3): 242–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gaitero J J, Campillo I, Guerrero A. Reduction of the calcium leaching rate of cement paste by addition of silica nanoparticles. Cement and Concrete Research, 2008, 38(8–9): 1112–1118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jansson I, Skarp U, Bigley C. The value of colloidal silica for enhanced durability in high fluidity cement based mixes. In: the 5 International RILEM symposium on self-compacting concrete, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  13. Green B. Development of a high-density cementitious rockmatching grout using nano-particles. In: Proceedings of ACI Session on “Nanotechnology of Concrete: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives”, 2008

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gawell K. Can Geothermal Energy Offset Global Warming? Renewable Energy News & Information, 2008

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sobolev K. Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering of Construction Materials. In: Nanotechnology in Construction, Proceedings of NICOM5, 2015, 3–13

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Kagel A. The State of Geothermal Technology Part II: Surface Technology. Geothermal Energy Association, 2008

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yokogawa Corporation of America.Yokogawa in the Power Industry,Bulletin 53T01A01-01E, 2005

  18. Kutepov A, Potapov V. Movement and mass exchange of liquid drop in spinned flow of geothermal medium. Tear. Osnovy Khim. Tekh., 2000, 34(2)

  19. Brazhnikov S, Generalov M, Taitnev N. Vacuum Sublimation Technique for Preparing Ultradispersed Powders of Inorganic Salts. Khim. Mashinoslr. (Moscow), 2004, 12: 12–15

    Google Scholar 

  20. ASTM C778. American Society for Testing and Materials. Standard specification of standard sand, 2006, 372–374

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhuravlev L. The surface chemistry of amorphous silica. Zhuravlev model. Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2000, 173(1): 1–38

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  22. Mindess S, Young J F, Darwin D. Concrete, 2nd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,2003

    Google Scholar 

  23. ASTM C1679–09. American Society for Testing and Materials. Standard Practice for Measuring Hydration Kinetics of Hydraulic Cementitious Mixtures Using Isothermal Calorimetry, 2009

  24. Wang K, Ge Z, Grove J, Ruiz J M, Rasmussen R, Ferragut T. Developing a Simple and Rapid Test for Monitoring the Heat Evolution of Concrete Mixtures for Both Laboratory and Field Applications. Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State University,2007

    Google Scholar 

  25. Muzenski S, Flores-Vivian I, Sobolev K. Hydrophobic engineered cementitious composites for highway applications. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2015, 57: 68–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. ASTM C1437-07. American Society for Testing and Materials. Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar, 2007, 611–612

  27. ASTM C109-07. American Society for Testing and Materials. Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (using 2-in or 50-mm Cube Specimens), 2007, 64–68

  28. IS 5816:1999. Splitting tensile strength of concrete-Method of Test, Bureau of Indian standards, 1999

  29. Quercia G, Spiesz P, Husken G, Brouwers J. Effects of amorphous nano-silica additions on mechanical durability performance of SCC mixtures. In: International Congress on Durability of Concrete, Trondheim, Norway, 2012

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sobolev K, Lin Z, Flores-Vivian I, Pradoto R. Nano-Engineered Cements with Enhanced Mechanical Performance. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2016, 99(2): 564–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the donation of materials by the Lafarge Cement Company, EKA Chemicals, AKZO Nobel and Handy Chemicals. The research team acknowledges the financial support from BRICS STI Framework Programme, PCA, WisDOT and We Energies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Advanced and Nano Cement-Based Materials Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211, USA

    Ismael Flores-Vivian, Rani G. K. Pradoto, Mohamadreza Moini, Marina Kozhukhova & Konstantin Sobolev

  2. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad s/n Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, 66455, Nuevo León, México

    Ismael Flores-Vivian

  3. The Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shoukhov, Belgorod, Russia

    Marina Kozhukhova & Konstantin Sobolev

  4. Geotechnological Research Center, Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683002, Russia

    Vadim Potapov

Authors
  1. Ismael Flores-Vivian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rani G. K. Pradoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohamadreza Moini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marina Kozhukhova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vadim Potapov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Konstantin Sobolev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantin Sobolev.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Flores-Vivian, I., Pradoto, R.G.K., Moini, M. et al. The effect of SiO2 nanoparticles derived from hydrothermal solutions on the performance of portland cement based materials. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 11, 436–445 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-017-0438-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-017-0438-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation