ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Published Online: 1 August 2012
Page Count: 6

Sensing Properties of Carbon Nanotube–Carbon Fiber/Cement Nanocomposites

Zuo, Junqing
Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Tongji Univ., Ministry of Education, Shanghai,
School of Civil Engineering, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN

Yao, Wu
Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Tongji Univ., Ministry of Education, Shanghai,

Liu, Xiaoyan
College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai Univ., Nanjing,
Center for Advanced Cement-based Materials, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL

Qin, Junjie
Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Tongji Univ., Ministry of Education, Shanghai,

(Received 28 March 2012; accepted 11 May 2012)

Abstract

In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added into a carbon fiber cement system to produce carbon nanotube–carbon fiber/cement nanocomposites in the form of pastes. The compressive strength, morphology, pressure-sensitive properties, and temperature-sensitive properties were tested. The results show strengthening of the mechanical properties and pressure sensitivity as the CNT content increases from 0.2 % to 1.0 % by mass of cement. The addition of CNTs into cement paste also leads to enhancement of the temperature sensitivity. Additionally, microscopic observation shows that CNTs act as fillers, which results in a dense microstructure of cement paste. Test results indicate that the carbon nanotube–carbon fiber/cement composites show potential either as stress sensors for vehicle detection, weigh-in-motion measurement, and vehicle speed detection or as thermistors for temperature monitoring in concrete structures.

Keywords:
sensing properties, carbon nanotubes, carbon fiber, cement nanocomposites

Paper ID: JTE20120092
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20120092
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