16. - 18. 10.

2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

INFLUENCE OF NANO-SILICA ADDITION ON PROPERTIES OF FRESH AND HARDENED

CEMENT MORTAR
Sayed ABD EL-BAKYa, Sameh YEHIAb, Ibrahim S. KHALILa
a

Housing & Building National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

b
Shorouk Academy, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of adding nano-silica particles, on the properties of fresh
and hardened cement mortar through measurements of workability, compressive and flexure strengths in
addition to measuring by SEM analysis. Nano-silica particles with size of 19 nm have been used as a cement
addition by 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 % by weight of cement content. Results indicated that the cement mortar
workability decrease with increasing nano-silica addition. On the other hand, the percentage of 7 % of nanosilica recorded as optimum percentage in compressive and flexure strength measured for cement mortar
mixed with the nano-silica. The improvement in compressive and flexure strength measured as 55.7 % and
46.9 % respectively, compared with the conventional mortar, especially at early ages. In addition, the
scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the microstructures showed that the nano silica filled the
cement paste pores, more homogeneity for cement paste and interfacial zone, by reacting with calcium
hydroxide crystals forming more calcium silicate hydration.
Keywords: Nano-Silica, Mortar,SEM

1.

INTRODUCTION

Recently, there are large numbers of applications of nanotechnology in the construction engineering field.
Nanomaterials (Pertaining to things on a scale of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)), [1], is an evergrowing multidisciplinary field of study attracting tremendous interest and have been applied in many fields to
fabricate new materials with novel functions due to their unique physical and chemical properties, [2].Cement
mortar, one of the most ubiquitous material in the world, is a nanostructured, multi-phase and composite
material that ages over time. It is composed of an amorphous phase, nanometer to micrometer size crystals,
and bound water. Using pozzolanic material such as silica fume (SF) is necessary for improving the
properties of both concrete and cement mortar, because the significant improvement occurred in the inter [3].
Therefore, for similar purposes, a stable gel structure can be formed and the mechanical properties of
hardened cement paste can be improved when a smaller amount of nano-silica is added [4]. The
microstructure of the mortar containing nano-silica (NS) was denser and more uniform than that of the
conventional mortar microstructure and that containing silica fume [5], [7], [14].
2.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

2.1.

Materials and Mix Proportions

2.1.1. Cement
The cement used is Portland Cement, (PC), (CEM I 42.5 - N) and the properties are shown in Table 1.
2.1.2. Aggregate
In this research natural siliceous sand with specific gravity of 2.6 and particles size from 0.06 mm to 5 mm
were used. It should be mentioned that aggregate were granulated based on ASTMC 136-96 standards.

16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

2.1.3. Water
Tap water used in this experiment.
Table 1 Chemical Composition of PC and NS
PC
Oxide Composition,
Wt %
CaO
63.3
SiO2
20.7
Al2O3
4.63
Fe2O3
3.63
MgO
1.63
SO3
3.25
K2O
0.87
Na2O
0.21
TiO2
--P2O5
--Ignition Loss
1.90

NS
Wt %
--99.9
----------------------------

2.1.4. Nano-Silica
The nano-silica used in this research is powder type. The chemical and physical specifications are given in
Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. The morphology of nano particles studied using Transmission Scanning
Election Microscopy (TEM), as Shown in Fig. 1.
Table 2 Physical Specifications of Consumed Nano-Silica
Specific Surface
Diameter of
Density
Purity
(m2/g)
Particles (nm)
(g/cm3)
Percentage
19
2.2.

2.12

160

99.9

Test Program and Specimens Fabrication

The test program of this research consist of 6 mixes

with different addition of NS percentages ranged
from 0% to 10% and added as a replacement of
cement content of mortar mixes, as shown in table
(3).the specimens fabrication is done as follows.
Firstly, mixing nano-silica with cement by ball miller,
type PM100 shown in Fig. 2, using four balls
(13mm) for 10 minuets, forming nano-silica and
cement composite.
After completing mixing
process nano-silica-cement composite prepared
and placed in the mixer, shown in Fig. 3. Fine
aggregate was added to the dry composite and
mixed together, then gently adding mixing water.
The final fresh mortar is poured into oiled molds
and after pouring, an external vibrator is used to
facilitate compaction and decrease the amount of

Fig. 1 TEM Micrograph of Nano-Silica

Figure 8(a): ball miller

16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

air bubbles. The specimens were demolded after 24hr and cured in a standard water tank at temperature of
203C.

Fig. 3 Mixer and Vibratory

Fig. 2 Ball Mill, Type PM100

2.3.

Testing Methods:

For each mix 9 cubes of 505050 mm were

tested in compressive according to ASTM
C109-99 at 3, 7 and 28 days. Also 9 prism
were tested for each mix in flexural according
to ASTM C 348-97 at 3, 7 and 28 days. A
displacement control machine for compression
and flexural tests is used as shown in Figure
(4). Table 3 shows the mixes proportions
based on ASTM standard of different mortar
mixes containing different percentage of NS.
3.

TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1.

Mortar Flow

270
260

flow diameter (mm)

The flowability test of

different cement mortars
were carried out according
to ASTM C1437. Results
refer to a flow reduction are
proportional
with
the
increasing
of
NS
percentages
in
cement
mortar up to 7 %, as apart
of
mixing
water
was
exhausted in the activation
of NS particles due to the
large specific surface area
of NS particles as seen in
Fig. 5. However, this

Fig. 4 Compression and Flexural Machine

250
240
230
220
210
200
1

3
4
nano-pow der(%)

Fig. 5 Mortar Flow

16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

behavior is changed when using 10 % of NS particles, the flow started to re-increase due to the remaining of
the excess NS particles without activation. So nano-silica absorbs amount of the mixing water, reducing
workability. However, the excess of nano-silica up to the interactive amount work as lubrication so reincrease the flow of the mortar.
Table 3 Mix Proportions, Compressive and Flexural Strengths of Different Mixes
Compressive strength
Mix Proportion
2
(kg/cm )
Flow
Sample
(mm)
C
NS
W
Sand
3D
7D
28D
%
%
%
%
NS1
100
0
48.5
275
260
159.3
214.5
240.6
NS2
99
1
48.5
275
255
197.4
291.9
305.0
NS3
97
3
48.5
275
240
212.5
297.2
318.5
NS4
95
5
48.5
275
225
218.8
323.8
341.2
NS5
93
7
48.5
275
220
275.9
347.1
374.7
NS6
90
10
48.5
275
223
258.5
232.7
336.1

7D

28D

24.41
28.5
32.21
33.81
39.94
35.63

32.63
42.00
45.75
46.69
52.50
47.06

36.38
43.31
49.50
52.88
58.31
53.44

Flexural Strengths:

Fig.7 shows the flexural strength of all

mixes at 3, 7 and 28 days. Results
showed that the improvement for
flexural strength for nano-silica cement
mortar, which replaced by cement
content equal 7 % gives optimum
percentage in improvement. All results

400
Compressive strength (kg/m2)

Fig. 6 shows the compressive strength

of all mixes at 3, 7 and 28 days.
Results showed that the optimum
percentage adding nano-silica as a
replacement of cement content was
7%, which improves compressive
strength by 55.7% at 28 days. As
shown in Table 3, the results
proportionally to Tobon, J.I [6] who
said that nano-silica up to 10 % NS,
can improves compressive strength by
86.9 %.When nano-silica is added by
different percentages, both the effect
and the amount of improvement of
compressive strength of mortar can
be enhanced. This result due to the
increasing of the bond strength of
cement paste-fine aggregate interface
by means of the filling, which will be
discussed in part 3.4 for SEM
(Scanning
Electron
Microscope)
analysis.
3.3.

3D

Compressive Strengths:

350
300

3 days
7 days
28 days

250
200
150
100
50
0
0

10

NS %

Fig 6 Effect of NS percentage on the Compressive Strengths

70
60
Flexural strength (kg/m2)

3.2.

Flexural Strength
2
(kg/cm )

50

3 days
7 days
28 days

40
30
20
10
0
0

10

NS%

Fig. 7 Effect of NS percentage on the Flexural Strengths

16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

showed that, when nano particles (nano-silica) is added as a replacement of cement content, but by different
percentage, the effect and amount of improvement of flexural strength of mortar can be enhanced. This
result is attributed to increasing the bond strength of cement paste-fine aggregate interfacial zone.
3.4.

SEM analysis

Fig 8 - (a, b and c), are shown SEM micrographs of reference mortar and mortar with 7 % nano-silica
respectively. The SEM shows that the microstructure of the nano-silica mortar, is denser and more
homogeneous than of the conventional mortar because of the pozzolanic reaction by consumption of
Ca(OH)2, and formation an additional C-S-H which fill the pores system and causing densification effect
which improve the microstructure of mortar. Proportionally to Paramita, [7] who said that were 18 % nanosilica added for concrete mixes; the volume fraction of high-stiffness C-S-H was high as 50%.Cement pastes
with nano-silica proved that nano-silica increases the average chain length of C-S-H gel.

ITZ

Aggregate
CSH

Crack

CH
Voids

Fig. 8-a SEM of Conventional Mortar for (ITZ)

Fig. 8-b SEM of Mortar with 7 % NS

ITZ

Aggregate

Fig. 8-c SEM of Mortar with 7 % NS

4.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the experimental results presented in this research, the following conclusions can be drawn:

16. - 18. 10. 2013, Brno, Czech Republic, EU

Workability of cement mortar which decreased by increasing the amount of interactive nano-silica as
long as the inserted nano-silica can be interactive with calcium hydroxide resulting from hydration
process of cement with water.

Compressive and flexural strength of the cement mortar increases proportionally with increasing the
amount of nano-silica, especially at early ages. Until achieving the optimum percentage, NS at 7%,
then decreases due to the decreasing of calcium hydroxide that exhausted in the activation process by
7% nano-silica. As any amount more than that have no activation and take place of cement by inert
powder, so it's naturally to decrease the strengths.

Cement mortar containing nano-silica have more homogeneity binder, less pores, more adhesion at
interfacial zone which is clarified in SEM analysis.

LITERATURE
[1]

ASTM E2456-06, Standard Terminology Relating to Nanotechnology.

[2]

Proceedings of ACI Session on, Nanotechnology of Concrete: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives
November 7, 2006, Denver, USA, pp 15-28.

[3]

M. Mazloom a, A.A. Ramezanianpour b, J.J. Brooks, Effect of Silica Fume on Mechanical Properties of HighStrength Concrete, Cement & Concrete Composites 26 (2004) 347357.

[4]

Ye Qing a,b, , Zhang Zenan, Kong Deyu, Chen Rongshen , Influence of Nano-SiO2 Addition on Properties of
Hardened Cement Paste as Compared with Silica Fume, Cement & Concrete Composites 26 (2004) 347357.

[5]

Ashwni K.Ranal, Significance of Nanotechnology in Construction Engineering, International Journal of Recent

Trends in Engineering , Vol 1, No. 4, May 2009.

[6]

Tobn, J. I Comparative Analysis of Performance of Portland Cement Blended with Nano Silica and Silica Fume
, Universidad Nacional de Colombia September, 2010, pp. 3746.

[7]

Paramita Mondal, Comparative Study of the Effects of Microsilica and Nanosilica in Concrete, Journal of the
Transportation Research Board, 2010.

[8]

Mostafa.Khanzadi, Influence of Nano-Silica Particles on Mechanical Propertie and Permeability of Concrete s,

Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2010.

[9]

Ali Nazari, Shadi Riahi, The Effects of SiO2 Nano Particles on Physical and Mechanical Properties of High
Strength Compacting Concrete, Elsevier compositesb journal 2010.

[10]

ASTM C 109/ C 109M-02, Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement mortars (Using
2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens) .

[11]

ASTM C348-97, Standard Test Method for flexural strength of Hydraulic-cement mortar.

[12]

ASTM C230/c230M-98e1, "Standard Test Method for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic cement.

[13]

Gengying Li, Properties of hHigh-Volume Fly Ash Concrete Incorporating Nano-SiO2 Cement and Concrete
Research 34 (2004) 10431049.

[14]

Zhi Ge, Applications of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in Construction, First International Conference on
Construction In Developing Countries (ICCIDCI), August 4-5, 2008, Karachi,, Pakistan.

[15]

Florence Sanchez, Nanotechnology in Concrete A Review, Construction and Building Materialsanchez 24

(2010) 20602071.

[16]

Jonathan S. Belkowitz1, An Investigation of Nano Silica in the Cement Hydration Process, 2010 Concrete
Sustainability Conference.

[17]

S. S. Shebl Mechanical Behavior of Activated Nano Silicate Filled Cement Binders, J Mater Sci (2009) 44:1600
1606.