New Polymer Concrete with Superior Ductility and Fracture Toughness Using Alumina Nanoparticles
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 8
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of alumina nanoparticles (ANPs) on tension and fracture characteristics of polymer concrete (PC). ANPs with a maximum particle size of 50 nm were used at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt.% of epoxy resin. Tensile strength, tensile failure strain, and fracture toughness (, , and ) were determined experimentally. A PC with superior ductility showing a tensile failure strain of 4.89% (compared with 2.56% for neat PC) was observed at ANP content of 3.0 wt.%. Using ANPs in producing epoxy PC can significantly improve ductility () and fracture toughness () compared with neat PC. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) observations were conducted to understand the role ANPs play to manifest the observed improvements in tension and fracture characteristics of PC.
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Acknowledgments
Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) has funded this research work. The authors greatly acknowledge this support. The first author acknowledges financial support from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) BIDEB-2219 Postdoctoral Research program. Finally, support to the fourth author by the Egyptian Science and Technology Fund (STDF-CSE 5213) is also appreciated.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 8 • August 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2016
Accepted: Nov 22, 2016
Published online: Apr 3, 2017
Published in print: Aug 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Sep 3, 2017
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