A Study on the Cementitious Mortars Containing Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Nanographene

摘要

In this paper, the effects of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nanographene (GP) on the mechanical performance of the cementitious mortars were investigated in different environments. Six mix designs were fabricated by considering the previous studies and exposed to potable water, acidic, and alkaline environments. The GP and MWCNTs partially replaced the cement with 0.25 , 0.5 , and 1 of its weight. The standard mechanical tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis were performed on the specimens. The results indicated that including the MWCNTs and GP increases the compressive strength by 10 and 20 and similarly improves the tensile strength by nearly 15 and 35 , respectively. Additionally, despite the decrease in strength of the specimens because of exposure to aggressive environments, incorporation of the GP and MWCNTs enhanced the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of the mortars and improved their workability. Based on the XRD and SEM analysis results, the MWCNTs can fill in the pores better than the GP, leading to a greater integrity in the mortar’s structure and, thus, better improving the performance of the cementitious mortars.