Essay Example: Effects of the Use of Nanotechnology in Concrete

Nanotechnology is a pre-existing technology that has been widely used. It is a subdivision of technology that deals with the creation and utilization of functional structures designed from the atomic and molecular scale with the dimensions measured in nanometers. Birgisson et al. elaborate the two approaches that can be used in the designing of materials; one of them is top-down, which involves creating materials to small size from large resources (2). The second one is bottom up, which encompasses using small things to make larger constituents (2). According to Shirkoohi, concrete is the most common and usable material in the building industry and hence improving its quality through nanotechnology has been deemed necessary (90). Pacheco-Torgal et al. show that one of its major constituents is cement, which has a dominant component and when mixed with water forms a highly complex product (39). However, concrete is a multiphase, composite material composed of an amorphous phase, bound water, and small-sized crystals.

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The Nano-scale has significantly helped to improve the properties of concrete. It enhances the bulk properties, thereby making it strong and efficient to avoid collapsing of structures (Pradesh 1080). Further, it has enabled constructors to achieve thinner final products that can be obtained within a faster setting time. Also, it allows the reduction of levels of environmental attack thus creating a friendly environment that can be considered green (Pradesh 1081). Nanotechnology has positive impacts in enriching the quality of concrete, which is vital in the construction industry.

Nanotechnology has been widely recognized and adopted by both professional and scholars who have done different studies to try and focus how it can be used and its effects. With furthermore researches been conducted, there has been the use of various materials in the Nano-engineering of concrete that includes Nano silica, carbon nanotube, Nano titanium, Nano clay, graphene oxide, polycarbonate Nano and, Nano alumina. According to Shekaria and Razzaghi, Nanoparticles are efficient in improving the resilience and physical attributes of high-performance concrete (3040). The mechanical properties entail the compressive strength. Kurapati additional stated that the inclusion of Nanoparticles would also increase both shear and flexural strength of cement-based materials (3005). Properties such as waterproof, acid resistive and self-healing qualities have also been developed to be added to the concrete.

Intensive study has been conducted to evaluate the impact of adding Nano silica to concrete. One of the effects of scrutiny is the compressive power of the material, which has been incorporated into NS. According to Maheswaran et al., different NS content incorporation to cement produces different effects on the strength of concrete incorporated with NS (19). Aggarwal, Singh, and Aggarwal showed that adding 1% of NS into concrete with water to cement the proportion of 0.4 tend to improve the compressive strength of concrete by 20% (7). Furthermore, an increase in water to the cement will tend to reduce the compressive strength to 12% (7). Therefore, different amounts of NS incorporation to the concrete are accompanied by different gains in the compressive strength of the concrete.

Durability is also another property of a material that has been given much attention by researchers. According to Quercia and Brouwers, water absorption of concrete tends to reduce with the incorporation of NS (6). Contrary to the findings of many scholars, Du, Du, and Liu reported that NS does not affect the absorption capacity of concrete (709). However, much empirical research conducted regarding the truth about the sorptivity of concrete, tend to support that incorporation of NS into the concrete is accompanied by an improvement in the absorption capacity of concrete. For instance, Rao et al. state that pavements made with the concrete, which has been applied with Nano silica tend to be durable, strong and resistant to processes of weathering (113). Therefore, Nano silica is an adequate Nanoparticle to enforce the concrete.

The application of Nano titanium dioxide in the construction material has been rarely practiced and referred in literature. However, there are a few studies to evaluate its effect on the concrete. According to Rashad, Nano titanium oxide has a high photocatalytic activity that results in various advantages to the concrete (87). With the inclusion of about 1-3% of Nano titanium, the concrete increased its abrasion resistance and also increased its fire resistance. Therefore, buildings built with NT have the ability not to collapse in cases of a fire emergency. Rashad also stated that the concrete that has 3% addition of NT has high compressive strength, flexural power, and abrasion resistance compared to concrete modified with the same contents of NS (89). Additionally, Shirkoohi states that Nano titanium dioxide can be used as an anti-reflective coat on the concrete since it is white, it brings out the radiance and luminosity (91). Structures that are built with the concrete containing NT appear bright and clean when exposed to the sunlight. Moreover, Rashad identifies that titanium dioxide contributes to self-cleaning properties of surfaces, especially when water flows since it is ultra-hydrophilic (92). Therefore, walls that have their concrete combined with NT tend to be cleaner than other structures made of concrete combined with other Nanoparticles. Also, Nano titanium oxide allows the concrete to destroy smog thus considered smog-eating (Pradesh 1081). It has allowed the development of green buildings, hence making the environment safe, as well as colorful.

The other Nanoparticle is polycarboxylate Nano. According to Plank et al., low ratios of plasticizers reduce the water demand of concrete (1). Furthermore, ultra-strength is achieved through the introduction of smaller-sized particles, which are finer than the cement and therefore fill the intergranular space to allow denser packing. The comprehensive strength is increased and the capillary pore decreased. For the superplasticizer, they work like high water reducers, and therefore, the more the use the less the demand for water. The flowability of the concrete is additionally increased by the positive charge and the surface area of the superplasticizer.

Carbon Nanotubes have been broadly used by researchers in various fields. There are two kinds of CNT, which include multi-walled and single-walled carbon nanotubes (Collins, Lambert and Duan 201). In the construction industry, CNT may play a vital role in enhancing the mechanical attributes of structural materials, especially concrete. Furthermore, CNTs have been shown to exhibit impressive physical properties under tensile loading. Silvestre, Silvestre, and de Brito show that carbon nanotubes provide a bond between the nanotubes and the CSH part of the mortar, which then enhances the pressure separation thus increasing the load allocation effectiveness from the adhesive matrix to the support (467). The Scanning Electron Microscope has shown that there is a good interaction among the CNTs and the mortar matrix, which results to the cement having a thicker microstructure and greater power than the concrete without the particular Nanoparticle (Collins, Lambert and Duan 205). On the other hand, Yazdani and Mohanam revealed that CNT was well distributed in cement matrix than the Carbon Nanofibers since there was association among the flow test outcomes, and the compressive powers noticed in trials (49). However, CNT is highly hydrophilic and during preparation, it negatively influences the proper hydration of the cement paste.

Another nanoparticle that can be used is graphene oxide, which is a crystalline allotrope of carbon. The research for the utilization of GO has been meaningful but has not been developed fully. There is still much work to be done to make it reliable in the reinforcement of concrete. However, the studies conducted by Monash University and Babak et al., show that the addition of 0.05% Go improves the pore structure and reduces the total porosity (8). In addition, it improves the ductility and reduces the sudden failure of the material. Moreover, Horszczaruk et al. show that the building built with the addition of GO is more durable contributed by a higher level of hydration and the density of the concrete (241). Nevertheless, researchers need to develop a cheaper synthesis of graphene oxide.

The other Nanoparticle is Nano clay, which can be divided into three categories including flocculated, intercalated and exfoliated Nanocomposites. Clay minerals are additionally categorized into kaolinite, chlorite, illite, and smectite. There have been various studies done to understand the incorporation of Nano clay into concrete. Das and Mitra concluded Nanocomposites can efficiently cover the apertures on concrete surfaces and that the permeability was significantly reduced to 50% since clay has a high aspect ratio (43). Additionally, Nano clay improves the strength and weight ratio of concrete. Moreover, Silvestre, Silvestre, and de Brito conducted studies that show NCl has a great potential of enhancing the physical property of concrete (23). However, there is increased water demand when Nano clay is used with concrete.

According to the studies done by Shekari and Razzaghi show that among all the Nanoparticles, Nano Alumina is efficient in increasing comprehensive strength of mortar (303). They noted that it significantly improved the high performance of concrete. Moreover, Behfarnia and Salemi tested samples containing different percentages of NA and the results indicated that the compressive power improved by 2.6% after seven days, 6% after twenty-eight days and 9% after four months (583). Furthermore, it reduced chloride permeation, therefore, enhancing the stability of the structure. Also, the increase in compactness of the interfacial transition zone was observed, as well as the denser microstructure of the concrete.

As such, the nanotechnology has positive effects on the concrete, thus improving the construction industry. The inclusion of Nanoparticles enhances the comprehensive and flexural strength making structures made by the concrete stronger and durable. Also, it reduces the total porosity of the concrete. In addition, it promotes environmental pollution remediation by equipping the concrete with additional properties, self-sterilization. Moreover, the inclusion of Nanoparticles enhances Young's modulus. However, the concrete having some of the Nano constituents make it more expensive.

Works Cited

Aggarwal, Paratibha, Rahul Pratap Singh, and Yogesh Aggarwal. "Use of nano-silica in cement based materials-A review." Cogent Engineering 2.1 (2015): 3-11.

Babak, Fakhim, et al. "Preparation and mechanical properties of graphene oxide: cement nanocomposites." The Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014): 7-15.

Behfarnia, Kiachehr, and Niloofar Salemi. "The effects of nano-silica and nano-alumina on frost resistance of normal concrete." Construction and Building Materials 48 (2013): 580-584.

Birgisson, Bjorn, et al. "Nanotechnology in concrete materials: A synopsis." Transportation Research E-Circular E-C170 (2012): 1-3.

Collins, Frank, John Lambert, and Wen Hui Duan. "The influences of admixtures on the dispersion, workability, and strength of carbon nanotube-OPC paste mixtures." Cement and Concrete Composites 34.2 (2012): 201-207.

Das, B. B., and Arkadeep Mitra. "Nanomaterials for Construction Engineering-A Review." International Journal of Materials, Mechanics and Manufacturing 2.1 (2014): 39-53.

Du, Hongjian, Suhuan Du, and Xuemei Liu. "Durability performances of concrete with nano-silica." Construction and Building Materials 73 (2014): 705-712.

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