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Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites
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Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 8065

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matteo Sambucci

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials, Environment, Sapienza University of Rome-INSTM Reference Laboratory for Engineering of Surface Treatments, 00184 Rome, Italy
Interests: cement-based composites; lightweight and waste aggregates; concrete 3D printing; alkali-activated cement composites; compatibilization of waste materials in concrete; mechanical properties; thermal and acoustic performances; finite element modelling
Dr. Marco Valente

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials, Environment, Sapienza University of Rome-INSTM Reference Laboratory for Engineering of Surface Treatments, 00184 Rome, Italy
Interests: materials engineering; polymer and composite materials; manufacturing technologies for composite materials; mechanical and technological characterization of composites; sustainable design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Construction sector turns out to be one of the most active fields in the experimentation and research of new materials and applications capable of responding to the current needs for efficiency, energy saving, and eco-sustainability. Driving by environmental regulations and consumers demand, eco-friendlier concrete materials are becoming a priority. Two possible ways are being explored to achieve these goals:

  • Incorporate waste aggregates to replace natural aggregates or using recycled fillers as eco-efficient reinforcing agents. A lot of scrap materials and by-products (construction and demolition wastes, plastics, metals, ash, glass, mining wastes, fibers), have properties suitable for being incorporated into cementitious matrices, bringing valuable engineering functionalization to concrete as well as mitigating the adverse effects of waste disposal and depletion of natural materials.
  • Implement new fiber-reinforced rebars (FRR) in substitution for steel. Ceramic-fiber reinforced composites (glass, basalt, aramid) provide superior corrosion resistance, excellent thermo-mechanical properties, and high strength-to-weight ratio than conventional materials. For rebar applications, they also represent “greener” solutions in terms of embodied energy than concrete and steel. Then, their use in civil infrastructure can improve innovation, increase productivity, enhance performance, and provide longer service life.

The compatibility of these functionalizing materials with the cementitious matrices and the interfacial bond behavior was found to be crucial factors for the mechanical strength and durability performances of the resulting concrete composites. Functional coatings and surface engineering treatments (physical, chemical, or “hybrid”) on waste “aggregates” and FRR are being investigated to improve the interfacial affinity with cement, aiming at enhancing their full technological applicability in the concrete technology. In the selection of the compatibilizing treatment, the environmental impact of the process should also be strongly considered to avoid making the use of alternative materials in construction less virtuous.

The Special Issue explores recent impressive studies on treatments and surface modifications applied to recycled/waste materials and FRR for their use in cement-matrix composites. The topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Coatings and surface treatments on waste/recycled “aggregates” and FRR for cement-matrix composites
  • Physical-chemical analysis of coatings and surfaces
  • Effect of surface modifications of waste/recycled “aggregates” and FRR on cement-matrix composite properties
  • Computational modeling and experimental assessment of surfaces and interfaces in cement-matrix composites
  • Environmental performances of coating and surface treatments

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Matteo Sambucci
Dr. Marco Valente
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cement-matrix composites
  • waste and recycled materials in concrete
  • fiber reinforced composite rebars
  • coatings and surface engineering treatments
  • surface and interfacial transition zone analysis
  • environmental impact assessment

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

5 pages, 215 KiB  
Editorial
Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement–Matrix Composites
by Matteo Sambucci and Marco Valente
Coatings 2022, 12(9), 1284; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12091284 - 02 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1294
Abstract
The construction sector is one of the most active fields in the experimentation and research into new materials and applications capable of responding to the current needs for efficiency, energy saving, and eco-sustainability [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)

Research

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22 pages, 5698 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the Fresh and Early Age Performances of Portland Cement Pastes via Sol-Gel Silica Coating of Metal Oxides (Bi2O3 and Gd2O3)
by Krzysztof Cendrowski, Karol Federowicz, Mateusz Techman, Mehdi Chougan, Tomasz Kędzierski, Myroslav Sanytsky, Ewa Mijowska and Pawel Sikora
Coatings 2023, 13(10), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13101698 - 27 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 814
Abstract
Incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into cement-based composites delays the hydration process and strength gain of cementitious composites. This study presents an approach toward improving the performance of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) particles [...] Read more.
Incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into cement-based composites delays the hydration process and strength gain of cementitious composites. This study presents an approach toward improving the performance of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) particles in cementitious systems by synthesizing core–shell structures via a sol-gel process. Two types of silica coatings on cementitious pastes with 5% and 10% substitution levels were proposed. The rheology, hydration, and mechanical properties of the pastes were analyzed to determine the relationship between the coating type and nanoparticle concentration. The results indicate that despite the significant disparities in the performance of the resulting material, both methods are appropriate for cement technology applications. Bi2O3’s silica coatings accelerate the hydration process, leading to early strength development in the cement paste. However, due to the coarse particle size of Gd2O3, silica coatings exhibited negligible effects on the early age characteristics of cement pastes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)
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24 pages, 40234 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Compatibility of Secondary Waste Carbon Fibers through Surface Activation via Nanoceramic Coating in Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars
by Matteo Sambucci, Marco Valente, Seyed Mostafa Nouri, Mehdi Chougan and Seyed Hamidreza Ghaffar
Coatings 2023, 13(8), 1466; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13081466 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1271
Abstract
The utilization of waste fibers in the production of reinforced concrete materials offers several advantages, including reducing environmental strain and socio-economic impacts associated with composite waste, as well as enhancing material performance. This study focuses on the development of cementitious mortars using secondary [...] Read more.
The utilization of waste fibers in the production of reinforced concrete materials offers several advantages, including reducing environmental strain and socio-economic impacts associated with composite waste, as well as enhancing material performance. This study focuses on the development of cementitious mortars using secondary waste carbon fibers, which are by-products derived from the industrial conversion of recycled fibers into woven/non-woven fabrics. The research primarily addresses the challenge of achieving adequate dispersion of these recycled fibers within the matrix due to their agglomerate-like structure. To address this issue, a deagglomeration treatment employing nanoclay conditioning was developed. The functionalization with nanoclay aimed to promote a more uniform distribution of the reinforcement and enhance compatibility with the cementitious matrix. Various fiber weight percentages (ranging from 0.5 w/w% to 1 w/w% relative to the cement binder) were incorporated into the fiber-reinforced mix designs, both with and without nanoceramic treatment. The influence of the reinforcing fibers and the compatibility effects of nanoclay were investigated through a comprehensive experimental analysis that included mechanical characterization and microstructural investigation. The effectiveness of the nanoceramic conditioning was confirmed by a significant increase in flexural strength performance for the sample incorporating 0.75 w/w% of waste fibers, surpassing 76% compared to the control material and exceeding 100% compared to the fiber-reinforced mortar incorporating unconditioned carbon fibers. Furthermore, the addition of nanoclay-conditioned carbon fibers positively impacted compression strength performance (+13% as the maximum strength increment for the mortar with 0.75 w/w% of secondary waste carbon fibers) and microstructural characteristics of the samples. However, further investigation is required to address challenges related to the engineering properties of these cementitious composites, particularly with respect to impact resistance and durability properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)
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17 pages, 12645 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation on Physical Properties of Concrete Containing Polypropylene Fiber and Water-Borne Epoxy for Pavement
by Li Wang, Hongliang Zhang, Bendong Zhao, Biao Wang, Quanman Zhao and Min Sun
Coatings 2023, 13(2), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13020452 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
Cement concrete pavement accounts for a large proportion of the road network due to its excellent mechanical strength and durability. However, numerous microcracks are generated due to the high brittleness of concrete, which poses a threat to the service life of concrete pavement. [...] Read more.
Cement concrete pavement accounts for a large proportion of the road network due to its excellent mechanical strength and durability. However, numerous microcracks are generated due to the high brittleness of concrete, which poses a threat to the service life of concrete pavement. Currently, simultaneous addition of fibers and polymers is a feasible approach to resolving the issues associated with the brittleness of concrete. This study explores the properties of concrete mixtures containing different levels of polypropylene fibers and water-borne epoxy. Additionally, fly ash is also introduced to concrete mixtures. The tests performed include slump, compressive strength, flexural strength, shrinkage, depth of water penetration, and abrasion. The results indicate that water-borne epoxy, at all levels, contributed to improving the weak interfacial bonding between polypropylene fibers and concrete. In addition, the combined incorporation of polypropylene fibers and water-borne epoxy could improve the mechanical and durability properties of concrete, with the combined utilization of 0.1% polypropylene fibers and 10% water-borne epoxy exhibiting the best performance. Moreover, with the incorporation of 10% fly ash into concrete, the mechanical strength and abrasion resistance experienced a slight reduction, while the workability, drying shrinkage resistance, and impermeability were improved. The current findings indicate that the combined utilization of polypropylene fibers and water-borne epoxy at appropriate levels is beneficial for application in pavement; however, in spite of superior drying shrinkage resistance and impermeability, the incorporation of fly ash into concrete pavement should be properly treated according to the actual engineering conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)
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11 pages, 1994 KiB  
Article
An Experimental Study on Strengthening Recycled Aggregates Considering Dry Mixing before Slurry Coating
by Xiaomeng Li, Liujun Fan and Shupeng Chai
Coatings 2022, 12(11), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12111702 - 08 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1194
Abstract
The strengthening of recycled aggregates is a critical issue, as the low strength of recycled aggregates is the main reason that limits their widespread use. The slurry coating method can strengthen the recycled aggregates by repairing the aggregate surface, but it is hard [...] Read more.
The strengthening of recycled aggregates is a critical issue, as the low strength of recycled aggregates is the main reason that limits their widespread use. The slurry coating method can strengthen the recycled aggregates by repairing the aggregate surface, but it is hard to improve the internal strength due to the existence of pores and cracks. In this study, a new methodology considering dry mixing with fines to fill and bond the internal pores and cracks before slurry coating is proposed. Twelve strengthened samples considering different combinations of dry-mixing fines and coating solutions were prepared, and the basic physical and mechanical properties were compared, including the water-absorption rate, crushing value, and apparent density with unstrengthened aggregates. The results indicate that the proposed methodology can change the water-absorption rate significantly and improve the crushing resistance and apparent density of the recycled aggregates. A high correlation between the apparent density and the crushing value was also observed. Furthermore, the strengthening mechanism of dry mixing was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The micromorphology of the strengthened aggregates indicates that internal pores and cracks can be filled by dry mixing fines and then bonded together after hydration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)
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12 pages, 2692 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Compression Properties of Ni-Fe Slag Powder Soil Cement under Impact Load
by Feng Chen, Shenghao Tong, Wang Hao and Shilin Shen
Coatings 2022, 12(7), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12071003 - 16 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1250
Abstract
In this research, Ni-Fe slag powder and mineral powder are blended into mineral admixtures and added to soil cement, with the aim of investigating the mechanical property of soil cement under a dynamic environment, and the dynamic properties of Ni-Fe slag powder soil [...] Read more.
In this research, Ni-Fe slag powder and mineral powder are blended into mineral admixtures and added to soil cement, with the aim of investigating the mechanical property of soil cement under a dynamic environment, and the dynamic properties of Ni-Fe slag powder soil cement after impact compression are obtained by conducting split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test. The results show that under the same age and different admixture conditions, the dynamic stress of Ni-Fe slag powder soil cement increases first and then decreases and reaches the maximum when the admixture ratio is 40%, and the dynamic stresses at 7 d, 28 d and 60 d were 5.10 MPa, 9.73 MPa and 13.51 MPa, respectively. Under the same admixture ratio, Ni-Fe slag powder soil cement shows an increasing trend in dynamic stress with age, and its growth rate at the curing age from 7 d and 28 d is significantly higher than that at the curing age from 28 d to 60 d. After comparison, it is concluded that the best admixture ratio for Ni-Fe slag powder is 40%, which is close to the maximum value of 45% for mineral admixtures to replace cement as specified in the national standard. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings and Surface Modifications in Cement-Matrix Composites)
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