Early-age behavior of blast-furnace slag cement pastes produced with carbon nanotubes grown directly on clinker

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes are a promising material to solve the low tensile strength and ductility of Portland cement-based materials. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibers (CNFs) synthesized directly on cement clinker particles can also reduce production costs and help dispersion. In this scenario, this paper analyzes the early age behavior of blast-furnace slag (Brazilian CP III 40 RS) cement pastes produced with CNTs grown directly on clinker. CP III 40 RS was selected since it is one of the most used cement by the construction industry in Brazil. Cement pastes containing 0.1% and 0.3% of CNTs with respect to cement content were compared with CNT-free pastes. No chemical admixtures were used as a dispersant in all cases. The yield stress, plastic viscosity, evolved accumulated heat, and the initial and final setting times are the properties investigated. The results show that the addition of CNTs does not alter the rheological behavior of the cement pastes considering the employed concentrations, although the yield stress values were larger. On the other hand, the presence of CNTs in the cement pastes increased the evolved accumulated heat, which in turn led to a significant reduction in the initial and final setting times.