The electrical properties of concrete are gaining their importance for the application in building construction. In this study, graphite powder was added to alkali-activated slag mortar as an electrically conductive filler in order to enhance the mortar’s conductive properties. The amount of graphite ranged from 1% to 30% of the slag mass. The effect of the graphite powder on the resistivity, capacitance, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the composite was investigated. Selected mixtures were then used for the testing of self-sensing properties under compressive loading. The results show that the addition of an amount of graphite equal to up to 10% of the slag mass improved the electrical properties of the alkali-activated slag. Higher amounts of filler did not provide any further improvement in electrical properties at lower AC frequencies but caused a strong deterioration in mechanical properties. The best self-sensing properties were achieved for the mixture with 10 wt% of graphite, but only at low compressive stresses of up to 6 MPa.
Construction materials with increased electrical conductivity could be possibly used in health monitoring of structures (stress, deformation, damages), their maintenance or traffic monitoring. The aim of this study was the application of functional filler and its influence on the electrical properties of the alkali-activated fly ash matrix. The graphite powder was added to the reference material in the amount of 2–10 %. Besides the assessment of the critical amount of filler necessary to achieve a percolation threshold in the structure of the composite, the effect on the electrical properties of the matrix (resistance, capacitance, conductivity) was determined. The optimal amount of filler was also determined with respect to the changes in microstructure of the binder and its mechanical properties.
Aluminosilicate materials are generally considered electrical insulators. In order to achieve enhanced electrical conductivity these materials must doped with suitable conductive admixtures such as carbon black. These composites gain the importance in the new field of applications such as self-sensing materials or self-monitoring structures. This paper presents a study on self-sensing properties of alkali-activated slag composite with 2 and 4% of carbon black as conductive filler during repeated flexural and till fracture loading in the configuration of three-point bending test. The results showed that best performance of the self-sensing properties was achieved with 4% of carbon black, though both the compressive and flexural strengths were deteriorated.
Concrete setting and hardening designate the concrete grade. The impedance spectroscopy method, as one of the non-destructive testing method group, was used to characterize concrete specimens and track the changes in the concrete spectrum. Variances in the tan δ (f) and Im Z(f) or Re Z(f) of the specimens under investigation have been observed. The specimen quality has been described by means of the loss type prevailing in the material. The results of this study are expected to provide information about the correlation between the n-factor and the concrete setting time.
Concrete quality depends on various stress factors. The impedance spectroscopy method, as one of the non-destructive testing method group, was used to characterize concrete specimens and track the changes in the concrete spectrum after heat stress. The temperature range was between 0°C and 1200°C. Variances in the tan δ (f) and Im Z(f) or Re Z(f) of the specimens under investigation have been observed. The specimen quality has been described by means of the loss type prevailing in the material. The results of this study are expected to provide information about the correlation between the relative permittivity and changes in the structure for heat stress samples.
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