Application and Research of Nanomaterials in Cement and Its Composites

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 379

Editor

National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Interests: well cement; mechanical properties of cement; well cementing technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is difficult to imagine modern civil engineering without cement-based materials. As the most widely used man-made materials in the world, cement-based materials are undergoing a significant transformation, from traditional construction to high-performance, multi-functional and sustainable directions. The introduction of nanotechnology provides a critical pathway to overcome the inherent bottlenecks of cement-based materials, such as high brittleness, low tensile strength and micro-cracking. Research indicates that nanomaterials optimize the microscopic pore structure through their unique “filling effect”, accelerate the hydration process via the “nucleation effect”, and inhibit the initiation and propagation of micro-cracks through “bridging and deflection” mechanisms. This structural regulation at micro- and nano-scales not only significantly enhances the fundamental mechanical properties (compressive, flexural and tensile strength) of cement-based composites but also imparts superior toughening effects and impact resistance.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to theoretical research, microstructure characterization, mechanical enhancement mechanisms, performance optimization and engineering applications of nanomaterials in cement and its composites.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

  • Mechanical Reinforcement Mechanisms: Strengthening mechanisms and micromechanical models of the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) modified by nano-SiO2, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, etc.;
  • Comprehensive Enhancement of Mechanical Performance: Research on ultra-high early strength, flexural strength improvement, fracture toughness and fatigue resistance of nano-modified cementitious materials;
  • Advanced Toughening Technologies: Synergistic toughening and crack control techniques involving the hybrid use of fibers and nanomaterials (e.g., 1D/2D materials);
  • Applications of Various Nanomaterials: Latest progress in nano-oxides, nano-clays, nano-carbon materials and their derivatives in modified cement-based materials;
  • Multi-scale Mechanical Modeling: Multi-scale computational mechanics and simulations ranging from molecular dynamics to macro-mechanical performance of nano-reinforced cementitious materials;
  • Mechanical Performance under Extreme Environments: Mechanical stability and evolution of nano-modified materials under high temperatures, freeze–thaw cycles, impact loading, or long-term stress;
  • Multifunctional and Smart Materials: Advanced nano-cement composites integrating structural load-bearing with self-sensing (piezoresistive effect), self-healing and energy harvesting capabilities;
  • Processing and Dispersion Stability: High-efficiency dispersion techniques for nanomaterials and their impact on the structural homogeneity and mechanical consistency of hardened pastes.

Dr. Bin Yuan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • cement-based composites
  • mechanical reinforcement
  • microstructure optimization
  • smart and multifunctional materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 6554 KB  
Article
Interfacial Enhancement of Polyethylene Fiber-Reinforced ECC via Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalization
by Baolin Peng, Chonggen Pan, Yuxin Huang, Huiqing Wang, Jian Geng, Yedong Chen, Xiangkun Meng and Youpeng Duan
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(12), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16120714 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 242
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) fibers are promising reinforcements for engineered cementitious composites (ECC); however, their highly hydrophobic nature and inherent chemical inertness limit their reinforcing effectiveness. This study investigated the use of different types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to modify PE fibers under varying [...] Read more.
Polyethylene (PE) fibers are promising reinforcements for engineered cementitious composites (ECC); however, their highly hydrophobic nature and inherent chemical inertness limit their reinforcing effectiveness. This study investigated the use of different types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to modify PE fibers under varying immersion times. Microstructural characterizations were conducted to investigate the effects of MWCNTs type and immersion time on the surface properties of PE fibers, while mechanical testing was undertaken to evaluate the mechanical performance of the resulting fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. MWCNTs were found to form a uniform coating on the surface of the reinforced PE fibers, resulting in a reduction in water contact angle from 164.2° to 118.4° and an increase in oxygen contents by 242.27%. With increasing immersion time, the single-fiber pull-out strength improved by up to 40.48%, with an optimal modification duration of 8 h. The MWCNTs modified PE fibers were found to increase the 28-day uniaxial tensile strength and three-point bending strength of the cementitious composites by up to 16.17% and 6.96%, respectively, while exhibiting negligible effects on compressive strength. This study implies that MWCNTs can effectively enhance surface wettability and mitigate surface inertness of PE fibers, thereby enhancing the overall performance of ECC. Full article
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