Effect of Carbon Nanofiber Clustering on the Micromechanical Properties of a Cement Paste.

ABSTRACT: The use of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in cement systems has received significant interest over the last decade due to their nanoscale reinforcing potential. However, despite many reports on the formation of localized CNF clusters, their effect on the cement paste micromechanical properties and relation to the mechanical response at the macroscopic scale are still not fully understood. In this study, grid nanoindentation coupled with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to determine the local elastic indentation modulus and hardness of a portland cement paste containing 0.2% CNFs with sub-micro and microscale CNF clusters. The presence of low stiffness and porous assemblage of phases (modulus of 15-25 GPa) was identified in the cement paste with CNFs and wa

SUBMITTER: Brown L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8778676 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature