Nano-TiO₂ particles: a photocatalytic admixture to amp up the performance efficiency of cementitious composites

The utilization of nanoparticle-blended cement while producing concrete or mortar is gaining immense significance nowadays, mainly on account of the improvements in the long-term durability characteristics of the composites.The feasibility of using cement blended with nano-TiO ₂ particles to produce less permeable or impermeable mortar and concrete of sufficient strength and durability requirements was investigated in the present study.The composite cement includes Ordinary Portland Cement replaced with TiO ₂ nanoparticles at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% quantities by weight. The properties studied include heat of hydration, compressive strength, bond strength, water absorption, permeability and sorptivity of mortar or concrete specimens. The roughness and surface defects of coarse aggregates greatly alleviated due to the incorporation of nano-TiO ₂ particles in concrete specimens. The rate of heat evolution increased during early stages of hydration owing to the high fineness and additional reactive surfaces induced from the nano-TiO ₂ particles blended in cementitious composite. Additionally, with reference to strength and durability characteristics, the nano-TiO ₂-blended composites performed relatively better than the control samples. The role of blended nano-TiO ₂ cement composites in reducing the interconnected matrix porosity of concrete is discussed briefly, providing evidences from scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations.