Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

Weiwei Zhang; Binbin Yin; Arslan Akbar; Wen-Wei Li; Yitao Dai; K. M. Liew

doi:10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9

Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

Weiwei Zhang
, Binbin Yin^*
, Arslan Akbar
, Wen-Wei Li
, Yitao Dai
, K. M. Liew^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

43 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials’ (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials. © The Author(s) 2024

Original language	English
Article number	30
Journal	npj Materials Sustainability
Volume	2
Issue number	1
Online published	2 Sept 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9
Publication status	Published - Sept 2024

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. 8730079, C1014-22G) and Science and Technology Program of Suzhou, China (SWY20222003).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Access Output

10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9

281742081.pdfFinal Published version, 4.71 MBLicence: CC BY

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

1 Finished
1 Active

CRF: An Upcycling Solution to the Paradox of Clean Energy Development
LIEW, K. M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), DAI, J. (Co-Principal Investigator) & ZHANG, X. (Co-Principal Investigator)
30/06/23 → …
Project: Research
CRF-Sub-pj: An Upcycling Solution to the Paradox of Clean Energy Development
ZHANG, X. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
30/06/23 → 7/09/23
Project: Research

Cite this

@article{673db0e0d0f24745ac38e6329a826d49,

title = "Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials",

abstract = "Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials{\textquoteright} (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82\% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24\%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024",

author = "Weiwei Zhang and Binbin Yin and Arslan Akbar and Wen-Wei Li and Yitao Dai and Liew, \{K. M.\}",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9",

language = "English",

volume = "2",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

AU - Zhang, Weiwei

AU - Yin, Binbin

AU - Akbar, Arslan

AU - Li, Wen-Wei

AU - Dai, Yitao

AU - Liew, K. M.

PY - 2024/9

Y1 - 2024/9

N2 - Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials’ (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials. © The Author(s) 2024

AB - Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials’ (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials. © The Author(s) 2024

U2 - 10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9

DO - 10.1038/s44296-024-00033-9

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2948-1775

VL - 2

JO - npj Materials Sustainability

JF - npj Materials Sustainability

IS - 1

M1 - 30

ER -

Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Fingerprint

Projects

CRF: An Upcycling Solution to the Paradox of Clean Energy Development

CRF-Sub-pj: An Upcycling Solution to the Paradox of Clean Energy Development

Cite this