Nano-Engineered High-Performance Cement Composites: Microstructure Design for Enhanced Durability
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
Interests: concrete materials and reinforced concrete structures; durability of materials; waste recycling; sustainable construction; life-cycle analysis; structural vulnerability; earthquake engineering; cultural heritage; equality management systems; product certification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: development of sustainable hydraulic binders; nano-enhanced cement-based materials; 3D concrete printing; multi-scale characterization of concrete properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: 3d printing; cement and concrete; eco-friendly concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Advances in nanotechnology have unlocked transformative pathways for enhancing the durability of cement materials. This Special Issue explores cutting-edge research on nano-engineered cement composites, with a focus on microstructure design strategies to mitigate degradation mechanisms and extend service life in aggressive environments. We invite contributions that bridge fundamental nanoscale interactions with macroscopic performance, emphasizing sustainability and scalability.
For this Special Issue, both original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Nanomaterials in Cement Composites: Exploration of various nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and nanosilica, which significantly improve mechanical strength and fracture resistance.
- Microstructural Optimization: Studies on enhancing packing density and reducing porosity through nanomaterial incorporation to improve durability.
- Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness: Use of recycled materials and strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of nano-engineered cement.
- Durability Assessments: Evaluation of long-term performance under environmental stressors including chemical attack, shrinkage, and freeze–thaw cycles.
- Self-Sensing and Smart Capabilities: Investigation into multifunctional cement composites with embedded nanosensors for structural health monitoring and damage detection.
Highlights:
- Nanoscale mechanisms of durability enhancement (e.g., interfacial bonding, pore blocking);
- Advanced characterization (SEM/TEM, XRD, NMR, nanoindentation);
- Modeling of nano-modified hydration kinetics and performance;
- Life-cycle analysis and environmental impact;
- Integration of nanotechnology for multifunctional properties (e.g., self-sensing, thermal/electrical conductivity).
This Special Issue aims to establish microstructure–property relationships that guide the development of the next generation of durable, smart infrastructure materials. We look forward to receiving your contributions and working together to advance the field of high-performance cement composites.
Prof. Dr. Ruben P. Borg
Dr. Yucun Gu
Dr. Haodao Li
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- nanomaterials
- cement/concrete composites
- microstructure characterization
- durability enhancement
- modeling
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