Effect of Preparation Technologies on Properties of Reactive Powder Concrete with Nano-zirconia

Abstract

Reactive powder concrete filled with 3% content of nano-zirconia (NZ) are fabricated to investigate the effect of preparation technologies on the mechanical strength. The preparation technologies involve internal (NZ is added in RPC and replaced cement )/external mixing(NZ is added in RPC but not replaced cement), ultrasonic time, high mixing speed, saturated lime water/high temperature curing media(curing in water at 90℃). The influencing mechanisms of processing method are revealed through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry (TG) analysis, scanning electron microscope observation. Experiment results showed that high mixing speed and high temperature curing media can improve the mechanical strength obviously. The compressive strength of NZ filled reactive powder concrete with high mixing speed increase 49.9%. The compressive strength, flexural strength and splitting strength of reactive powder concrete with NZ under high temperature curing media increase 35%, 15% and 17% respectively compared with control concrete.