The synthesis, characterization, and mechanism of a dense plate-like C-S-H based on cation exchange membrane-templating. (2nd May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiong, Chenchen; Wang, Yulin; Zhou, Yang; Liu, Xingyu; Tang, JinHui; Feng, Pan
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 376(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05-02
• Subjects: Calcium silicate hydrate -- Layer-by-layer -- H-cell penetration -- Template -- Molecular dynamic simulation; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: A dense plate-like C-S-H was fabricated based on Layer-by-layer method and H-cell penetration method. The novel C-S-H platelets own significantly higher elastic modulus than traditional C-S-H. The growth mechanism of the compacted hierarchical C-S-H platelets was proposed combined with molecular dynamics simulation. Abstract: An ordered structure and high mechanical property of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel has been always pursued in the field of cementitious materials. In this paper, compacted and layer-by-layer stacking C-S-H plates were fabricated based on Layer-by-Layer (LBL) method and H-cell penetration (HCP) method through cation exchange membrane templating. This new way changed the randomly packing structure of traditional C-S-H, and synthesized a high-orderly C-S-H platelets with denser structure. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, it can be attributed to the strong adsorption and nucleation sites contributed by sulfonic acid groups on the cation exchange membrane. Besides, AFM indentation experiments indicate this C-S-H owns significantly higher elastic modulus than traditional C-S-H, while the mechanical properties can be further increased by the addition of PVA and the regulation of reaction time. This new type C-S-H may pave the way to the preparation of high-performance concrete in the future.