Abstract
The use of effectively dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/aqueous/surfactant suspensions in cement based materials have been shown to substantially improve their mechanical properties. The produced MWCNT suspensions have a high aqueous content, which corresponds to the mixing water. In the present work, a method for preparing highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions is presented, thus reducing the volume of the resulting admixture that is required in cement based materials. A centrifugal process, that uses two different ultracentrifuge rotors, was employed to reduce the quantity of water in the suspensions. Optical absorbance spectroscopy shows that the ultracentrifugation process increases the concentration of the MWCNT suspensions by a factor of 5. Using the highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions following dilution results in nanocomposites with mechanical properties that are comparable to the performance of samples prepared using the non-concentrated suspensions. These results verify that the ultracentrifugation concentration method successfully preserves the solubility of the MWCNT suspensions without affecting the reinforcing properties of the admixture. In this manner, the ultracentrifugation concentration method may constitute an effective preparation step for large-scale implementation of MWCNT admixtures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 612-617 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Cement and Concrete Composites |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2012 |
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Keywords
- Carbon nanotubes
- Mechanical properties
- Nano composites
- Optical absorbance spectroscopy
- Ultracentrifugation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Building and Construction
Cite this
Highly concentrated carbon nanotube admixture for nano-fiber reinforced cementitious materials. / Metaxa, Zoi S.; Seo, Jung Woo T; Konsta-Gdoutos, Maria S.; Hersam, Mark C; Shah, Surendra P.
In: Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 34, No. 5, 05.2012, p. 612-617.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Highly concentrated carbon nanotube admixture for nano-fiber reinforced cementitious materials
AU - Metaxa, Zoi S.
AU - Seo, Jung Woo T
AU - Konsta-Gdoutos, Maria S.
AU - Hersam, Mark C
AU - Shah, Surendra P.
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - The use of effectively dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/aqueous/surfactant suspensions in cement based materials have been shown to substantially improve their mechanical properties. The produced MWCNT suspensions have a high aqueous content, which corresponds to the mixing water. In the present work, a method for preparing highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions is presented, thus reducing the volume of the resulting admixture that is required in cement based materials. A centrifugal process, that uses two different ultracentrifuge rotors, was employed to reduce the quantity of water in the suspensions. Optical absorbance spectroscopy shows that the ultracentrifugation process increases the concentration of the MWCNT suspensions by a factor of 5. Using the highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions following dilution results in nanocomposites with mechanical properties that are comparable to the performance of samples prepared using the non-concentrated suspensions. These results verify that the ultracentrifugation concentration method successfully preserves the solubility of the MWCNT suspensions without affecting the reinforcing properties of the admixture. In this manner, the ultracentrifugation concentration method may constitute an effective preparation step for large-scale implementation of MWCNT admixtures.
AB - The use of effectively dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/aqueous/surfactant suspensions in cement based materials have been shown to substantially improve their mechanical properties. The produced MWCNT suspensions have a high aqueous content, which corresponds to the mixing water. In the present work, a method for preparing highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions is presented, thus reducing the volume of the resulting admixture that is required in cement based materials. A centrifugal process, that uses two different ultracentrifuge rotors, was employed to reduce the quantity of water in the suspensions. Optical absorbance spectroscopy shows that the ultracentrifugation process increases the concentration of the MWCNT suspensions by a factor of 5. Using the highly concentrated MWCNT suspensions following dilution results in nanocomposites with mechanical properties that are comparable to the performance of samples prepared using the non-concentrated suspensions. These results verify that the ultracentrifugation concentration method successfully preserves the solubility of the MWCNT suspensions without affecting the reinforcing properties of the admixture. In this manner, the ultracentrifugation concentration method may constitute an effective preparation step for large-scale implementation of MWCNT admixtures.
KW - Carbon nanotubes
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Nano composites
KW - Optical absorbance spectroscopy
KW - Ultracentrifugation
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859156071&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2012.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2012.01.006
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 612
EP - 617
JO - Cement and Concrete Composites
JF - Cement and Concrete Composites
SN - 0958-9465
IS - 5
ER -