Carbon nanotube–cement composites: A retrospect

Abstract

Although ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is widely used in the construction industry, its weak tensile strength, to some extent, limits its application. A carbon nanotube (CNT), on the other hand, has outstanding mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 63 GPa and Young's modulus of 1 TPa, making it a candidate as nano-scale reinforcements in OPC. Past research studies have reported improved mechanical and electrical properties of carbonnanotube–ordinary Portland cement (CNT–OPC) composites, which show future promise in practical civilengineering applications. In this study, recent research studies in developing CNT–OPC composites are comprehensively reviewed. Highlighted herein are the considerable efforts been made in the study of fabrication, hydration, porosity and transport properties of the CNT–OPC composites. There are, however, future investigations needed to provide a better understanding in the areas of uniform dispersion of CNTs within the OPC paste, durability, impact, fatigue properties and the theoretical modelling of CNT–OPC interaction.