Effect of carbon nanotubes on calcium carbonate/calcium silicate phase and morphology

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Gomez, Virginia^a | Correas, Covadonga^a | Barron, Andrew R.^{a; b; c; *}

Affiliations: [a] Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK | [b] Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA | [c] Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Andrew R. Barron, Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Swansea University, Bay Campus, Swansea, SA1 8EN, Wales, UK. Tel.: +44 0 1792 606930; E-mails: a.r.barron@swansea.ac.uk; arb@rice.edu.

Abstract: The composition and microstructure of different CaCO3-Ca2SiO4-carbon nanotube composites have been studied. Materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphology and structure of the inorganic systems are affected by the presence of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) during the hydration processes and the nature of the MWCNT/SDS interface plays a role in the curing stages of the composite enhancing the growth of calcium silicate.

Keywords: Calcium, carbonate, carbon nanotubes, silicate, microstructure, hydration

DOI: 10.3233/MGC-160225

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 57-65, 2017