Production of Nano-Concrete with Fumed Silica, Metakaolin & Portland Cement Using High Energy Mixing

Abstract

The application of Nano-Technology in cement mortar or concrete has added new dimension to the efforts to
improve its different properties. Nano-particles, because of their very small particles size can affect the properties of a
cement mortar or concrete by changing its micro structures. This study concerns with the use of fumed silica as a nano
particles and metakaolin to improve the compressive strength of the nano-concrete. An experimental investigation has
been carried out to replace the cement with fumed silica of 2%,5%,6%,7%,8%,9% &10% and metakaolin of 10%,15% &
20%. The tests conducted on it shows a considerable increase in the compressive strength. The strength increase was
observed with a certain amount of Fumed silica & metakaolin. The FSEM micrograph shows that the micro structures of
hardened nano-concrete is improved on addition of fumed silica. A sample of industrial kaolin and a representative
sample is taken from Swat Khyber Pukhtton Khwa Pakistan mine reservoir and tests like thermo gravimetric analysis and
X-ray diffraction are performed, to find out either it is kaolin or some other mineral.