Use of nano materials in concrete construction

Abstract

Portland cement is the major chemical product processed in the world, more than 3.6 Bton at 2011, causing important environmental impacts. Several nano-particles have been tested in cement based materials in order to improve their performance and durability leading to an eco-efficiency use for this binder. Published researches for nano-particles in cement based materi-als have been demonstrated optimum volumetric contents considering the relative strength gain, directly related with packing and nucleation effect observed for nano-particles, and a poz-zolanic reaction is observed for nano-SiO₂.