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Nano-TiO2 particles: a photocatalytic admixture to amp up the performance efficiency of cementitious composites

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Abstract

The utilization of nanoparticle-blended cement while producing concrete or mortar is gaining immense significance nowadays, mainly on account of the improvements in the long-term durability characteristics of the composites. The feasibility of using cement blended with nano-\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) particles to produce less permeable or impermeable mortar and concrete of sufficient strength and durability requirements was investigated in the present study. The composite cement includes Ordinary Portland Cement replaced with \(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) nanoparticles at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% quantities by weight. The properties studied include heat of hydration, compressive strength, bond strength, water absorption, permeability and sorptivity of mortar or concrete specimens. The roughness and surface defects of coarse aggregates greatly alleviated due to the incorporation of nano-\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) particles in concrete specimens. The rate of heat evolution increased during early stages of hydration owing to the high fineness and additional reactive surfaces induced from the nano-\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) particles blended in cementitious composite. Additionally, with reference to strength and durability characteristics, the nano-\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\)-blended composites performed relatively better than the control samples. The role of blended nano-\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) cement composites in reducing the interconnected matrix porosity of concrete is discussed briefly, providing evidences from scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the cooperation rendered by the non-teaching staff of Department of Civil Engineering, SMVITM, Bantakal, in obtaining the experimental data presented in the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, 572 103, India

    Sujay Raghavendra Naganna

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritanagar, Coimbatore, 641 112, India

    K Jayakesh

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Vivekananda College of Engineering and Technology, Puttur, 574 203, India

    V R Anand

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management, Bantakal, Udupi, 574 115, India

    Sujay Raghavendra Naganna, K Jayakesh & V R Anand

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  1. Sujay Raghavendra Naganna
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Correspondence to Sujay Raghavendra Naganna.

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Naganna, S.R., Jayakesh, K. & Anand, V.R. Nano-TiO2 particles: a photocatalytic admixture to amp up the performance efficiency of cementitious composites. Sādhanā 45, 280 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-020-01515-x

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