Nanoscale mechanical properties of cement paste reinforced with short carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This paper summarises an investigation into the behaviour of cement paste reinforced with 0·30% short multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Nanoindentation tests indicated that the addition of short nanotubes increased the amount of high-density calcium–silicate–hydrate compared with low-density calcium–silicate–hydrate gel. It was also observed that cement paste reinforced with short nanotubes had higher elastic modulus values than those of plain cement paste. Nanoscratch testing indicated that the presence of short nanotubes made the cement paste harder to penetrate into. The coefficient of friction values in cement paste reinforced with short nanotubes were found to be slightly higher than those in the plain cement paste.