Influence of Carbon Nanotube Clustering on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Cement Pastes
1
Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University in the City of New York, 610 Seely W. Mudd 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
2
Robotics Institute, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Klara Hernadi
Materials 2016, 9(4), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9040220
Received: 27 January 2016 / Revised: 14 March 2016 / Accepted: 16 March 2016 / Published: 23 March 2016
(This article belongs to the Section Structure Analysis and Characterization)
Given the continued challenge of dispersion, for practical purposes, it is of interest to evaluate the impact of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different states of clustering on the eventual performance properties of cement paste. This study evaluated the clustering of MWCNTs and the resultant effect on the mechanical and electrical properties when incorporated into cement paste. Cement pastes containing different concentrations of MWCNTs (up to 0.5% by mass of cement) with/without surfactant were characterized. MWCNT clustering was assessed qualitatively in an aqueous solution through visual observation, and quantitatively in cement matrices using a scanning electron microscopy technique. Additionally, the corresponding 28-day compressive strength, tensile strength, and electrical conductivity were measured. Results showed that the use of surfactant led to a downward shift in the MWCNT clustering size distribution in the matrices of MWCNT/cement paste, indicating improved dispersion of MWCNTs. The compressive strength, tensile strength, and electrical conductivity of the composites with surfactant increased with MWCNT concentration and were higher than those without surfactant at all concentrations.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Jang, S.-H.; Kawashima, S.; Yin, H. Influence of Carbon Nanotube Clustering on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Cement Pastes. Materials 2016, 9, 220.
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