THE EFFECTS OF ADDING NANO ZrO2 ON THE PHYSICAL AND SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT PASTE

Abstract

The aims of this work are study the effects of adding nano zirconia ZrO2 particles (NZ) on the physical and some mechanical properties of cement paste like: porosity, dry density, water absorption and compressive strength, where different cement replacement weight percentages of NZ particles, 0%, 0.75%, 1.5%, 2.25%, and 3 % by weight of cement, had used in cement paste. Physical properties of the prepared specimens had been tested and evaluated after various curing times, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, while compressive tests had been performed after 28 days. The results showed direct decreasing in porosity, water adsorption and increasing in density and compressive strength with increasing weight fractions of NZ. The maximum increasing in density and compressive strength were 13% and 21% respectively of that of plain cement paste, while porosity and water adsorption decreasing were about 43.5 % and 43.7 % respectively of that of plain cement paste, when using 2.25 wt. % NZ cement replacement, after curing for 28 days.