Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management,Nagpur

ADDITION OF NANOPARTICLES FOR ENHANCING STRENGTH

OF CONCRETE

BY:
MAYUR THAKARE K45
KHUSHAGRA SIDHRA K42
AMAN SINGH K13
RISHI DHAKULKAR K72

PROJECT MENTOR: ASST. PROF.

HARIOM KHUNGAR SIR
CONTENT:

• ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• WHY NANOPARTICLES
• NANOPARTICLES
• TEST
• PROPERTIES
- PHYSICAL
-CHEMICAL
• RESULT
• ADVANTAGES
• SCOPE
• CONCLUSION
Abstract:
• Nanotechnology is one of the most active research areas that include a number of disciplines
including civil engineering and construction materials.

• Nanotechnology is the understanding, control, and restructuring of matter on the order of

nanometers
 • Nanotechnology encompasses two main approaches:
(i) the ‘‘topdown” approach, in which larger
structures are reduced in size to the nanoscale while
maintaining their original properties or deconstructed
from larger structures into their smaller, composite parts

(ii) the ‘‘bottom-up”

approach, also called
‘‘molecular nanotechnology”
or ‘‘molecular
manufacturing,” in which
materials are engineered from
atoms or molecular
components through a process
of assembly or self-assembly.
INTRODUCTION

Nanomaterials are any type of material of

nanosized thickness, i.e. less than 100 nm
in thickness.
many of which exhibit different
properties than bulk materials.
Aside from the specific thickness range,
50% of the particles of the nanomaterial
must be present in the 1-100 nm range
and not be aggregated for materials to be
classed as nanomaterials.
(A) Detail of SEM
micrograph of TiO 2-
doped cement paste
after 7 days hydration
time, showing shell
microspheres of
amorphous inner C-S-
H gel formed around
the TiO 2
nanoparticles. Fibrillar
outer C-S-H bridges
the spheres filling the
inter-hydrate space.

(B) Same TiO 2-cement paste after 14 days hydration

displaying the same features.
The X-ray diffraction (XRD)
of NT exhibits a smooth hump
confirming the amorphous
phase, suitable for use in
cementitious matrices (Fig.
12). The peaks labeled 'R' and
'A' denote rutile and anatase
phases (Daniyal et al., 2019).
The first available research on
nano-TiO 2 (NT) concrete was
carried out by Li et al. (2006)
from the Harbin Institute of
Technology
METHODOLOGY:
 WHY NANOPARTICLES ?
• Modern concrete infrastructure requires structural components with
higher mechanical strength and greater durability. A solution is the
addition of nanomaterials to cement-based materials, which can enhance
their mechanical properties
• The nanomaterials could decrease the cement porosity, generating a
denser interfacial transition zone. In addition, nanomaterials reinforced
cement can allow the construction of high-strength concrete structures
with greater durability, which will decrease the maintenance requirements
or early replacement.
 Nanomaterials in Cement-Based Materials

• Nano-Silica (Nano-SiO2)
• Nano-silica is a nanomaterial employed for
civil engineering applications that can
replace micro-silica and silica fume. Nano-
silica reacts with lime during the cement
hydration process and it generates a C–S–H
gel that may improve the mechanical
strength and durability of concrete
 Nanomaterials in Cement-Based Materials

Nano-Ferric Oxide (Nano-Fe2O3)

The optimal addition of nano-Fe2O3 in
concrete specimens may improve their
compressive strength. In addition, the
volume electrical resistance of cement
mortars with inclusion of nano-
Fe2O3 can be altered through the applied
load, allowing the measure of
compressive stress .It can be used for
structural heath monitoring of concrete
structures without require additional
sensors.
 Nanomaterials in Cement-Based Materials
• Nano-Titanium Oxide (Nano-TiO2)

• The addition of nano-TiO2 in concrete

specimens can provide self-cleaning properties
to the concrete. The concrete containing these
nanoparticles can allow a photocatalytic
degradation of pollutants (e.g., VOCs, CO, NO x,
aldehydes and chlorophenols) from industrial
and automobile emissions. However, this effect
is less efficient with aging due to carbonatation.
 Nanomaterials in Cement-Based Materials
• Nano-Alumina (Al2O3)

• The use of nano-Al2O3 can accelerate the formation

process of C–S–H gel, especially at early-ages,
which enhances the strength of composites .For
instance, Muzenski et al. fabricated ultra-high
strength cement-based materials using
Al2O3 nanofibers with a content of 0.25% by
weight of cementitious materials, which improved
the compressive strength up to 200 MPa.
 Nanomaterials in Cement-Based Materials
• Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)
• The CNTs have important mechanical
and electrical properties, including
their high strength and high
conductivity. For instance, CNTs have
high mechanical performance with high
aspect ratios (length to diameter ratio)
that may generate stronger cement
composites.
Nano-TiO2 • Tio2 is a very well known and well researched material due to the stability of its chemical
structure, biocompatibility, physical, optical and electric properties. 
• It exists in three mineral forms : anatase, rutile and brookite . Ti02 is preferred in anatase
form because of its high photocatalytic activity. 
• TiO2 properties can be divided into three types-
• Crystal Properties
• Optical Properties
• Electrochemical Properties
 Crystal Properties
• TiO2 is a white noncombustible
and odorless powder with a
  Molecular weight - 79.9 g/mol
Boiling point of 2972°C
Melting point of 1843°C
Relative density of 4.26 g/cm3 at
25°C
 Optical and Electrochemical Properties
• It has high transparency is visible region and chemical stability in
aqueous medium.
• TiO2 can catalytically decompose harmful gases such as NOX under the action
of light.
• The chemical and physical properties of nano-TiO2 are altered by their inherent
electronic structure, size, shape, surface properties, and organization.
• Example - Anatase has a smaller electron effective mass than rutile, resulting
to an increase in mobility for the charge carriers in anatase
 Synthesis of TiO2

• The TiO2 nanoparticle reinforced concrete

specimens are prepared by direct mixing method
and then are synthesized and introduced into the
concrete . The method of synthesis of TiO2
include - 
 The Hydrothermal Method 
 Sol–Gel Method
 Solvothermal Method
  Chemical and Physical Vapor Deposition
Method
 Thermal Decomposition Method
 Oxidation Method
Introduction of TiO2 changes the characteristics of
concrete making it more suitable for construction.
Lets have a look at what changes occurs.
• Workability
Nano TiO2 causes orderly decrease in workability with increase in percentage .
• Strength 
When TiO2 nanoparticles are mixed into the concrete matrix to improve the microstructure of concrete.
TiO2 nanoparticles convert the harmful pores of concrete into harmless pores or less harmful pores and
enhance the strength of concrete .
Nano-TiO2 accelerates the early-age hydration of Portland cement, improve compressive and flexural
strengths, and enhance the abrasion resistance of concrete.
• The photocatalytic property of nano‐TiO2 can help decompose gaseous
 pollutants, enhancing and optimizing the performance of concrete.
• The introduction of NT improved the pore structure, acting as a filler
and enhancing concrete density, the presence of NT
improved the consistency, reducing the segregation and bleeding of
concrete.
 Use of Nanomaterial  - an overview

Advantages Disadvantages
• Increases Strength  • Rare availability
• Amount of cement used is saved • Expensive
• Enhance the Hydration Process
• Depending on the
• Environment friendly chemical composition it may be toxic
• Increase serviceability and are self cleansing
• Can affect human health if not used
• Provide Corrosion resistance to steel with proper precautions
SCOPE:

• If Portland cement can be formulated

with nano size cement particles, it will
open up a large number of
opportunities.
• The cement will not only be more
economical than organic polymers but
also will be fireresistant.
• A number of investigations have been
carried out for developing smart
concrete using carbon fibers.
• This will become a
reality with nano-
cement because
nano carbontubes
are much more
effective than carbon
fibers. The thickness
of the composite can
be reduced to
microns and hence
flexible and smart
cement composite
can be
manufactured.
CONCLUSION:
Well dispersed Nano particles increase the
viscosity of the liquid phase, improves the
segregation resistance and workability of the
system.Accelerates the hydration.Better
bond between aggregates and cement
paste.Improves the toughness, shear, tensile
strength and flexural strength of concrete.
1- By adding specific nanomaterials to concrete
novel properties may be obtained, but this do
not mean that add a nanomaterial to concrete
and wait for a miracle.

2-Health and environmental impacts of

nanomaterials are of a great interest.
References:
https://www.google.co.in/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjn9sShxJn6AhWv8zgGHUnyDP4QFnoECAUQAw&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC6861922%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DNano%252Dsilica%2520reacts
%2520with%2520lime%2Cpaste%252C%2520allowing%2520a%2520denser
%2520microstructure.&usg=AOvVaw2btMhPI8qz7RkgLWY0bdeH

THE END