Enhancement of Reactive Powder Concrete via Nanocement Integration

Reactive powder concretes (RPCs) were developed through careful design and control of the composite microstructure. Enhanced properties were achieved through optimization of the gradation and arrangement of the inert particles, as well as through designing the reactive components (e.g., coarse-ground oil-well cement and silica fume) to govern the hydration product morphology. Recently, a process has been developed for synthesis of cement with nanometer-scale particle sizes with tailorable chemical compositions. The addition of nanocements to RPCs is unique because it influences the early hydration reaction of the cement in RPC for nano-sized hydration products. The replacement of a small fraction of the conventional cement with these nano-sized reactive particles reduces the induction period in cement hydration and initiates a faster conversion to the hydration products. Integration of nanocements may also lead to a denser product microstructure with higher ultimate compressive and tensile strengths. Pote...