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Contribution of CNTs/CNFs morphology to reduction of autogenous shrinkage of Portland cement paste

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An Erratum to this article was published on 27 March 2017

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Abstract

In this experimental study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were dispersed by intensive sonication in water in the presence of superplasticizer and subsequently mixed with Portland cement with water/ cement ratios varying between 0.3 and 0.4. The autogenous shrinkage in the fresh stage was investigated. The CNTs and CNFs were characterized by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the hydrated pastes were studied by X-ray diffraction and SEM. The results showed a reduction of the autogenous shrinkage by 50% for pastes containing small amounts (0.01 wt%) of nanomaterials. Higher additions appeared to be less effective. The highest reduction of shrinkage was observed for carbon nanofibers which were long, rather straight and had diameters of around 200 nm. The result showed that the addition of nanomaterials accelerated the hydration processes especially in the early stages of hydration. The effect was the most pronounced in the case of functionalized nanotubes. The proposed mechanism resulting in the reduction of the autogenous shrinkage was a combination of nano-reinforcing effects, alterations of hydration and microstructure of the hydrated matrix.

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Change history

  • 27 March 2017

    The first author?s first name and family name are interchanged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Concrete Technology Laboratory, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 4, 00076, Aalto, Finland

    Feneuil Blandine

  2. Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden

    Karin Habermehi-Cwirzen & Andrzej Cwirzen

Authors
  1. Feneuil Blandine
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  2. Karin Habermehi-Cwirzen
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  3. Andrzej Cwirzen
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Correspondence to Andrzej Cwirzen.

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Blandine, F., Habermehi-Cwirzen, K. & Cwirzen, A. Contribution of CNTs/CNFs morphology to reduction of autogenous shrinkage of Portland cement paste. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 10, 224–235 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-016-0331-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-016-0331-4

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