Targeting HPC with the help of nanoparticles: An overview

According to the 2011 ERMCO statistics only a mere 11% of the ready-mixed concrete class production relates to the HPC target, furthermore, this percentage remains unchanged at least since the year 2001. This represents a strange option from the construction industry since HPC offers several advantages over normal-strength concrete, namely, high strength and high durability. Therefore, HPC allows for concrete structures with less steel reinforcement and a longer service life, both of which are crucial issues in the eco-efficiency of construction materials. Although nanotechnology is a very hot issue the fact is that investigations on the field of concrete with nanoparticles are rare (100 in 10,000 Scopus concrete related articles published in the last decade). Actually, it remains to be seen how this research area will contribute to concrete eco-efficiency. This paper summarizes current knowledge on the field of concrete containing nanoparticles. It includes the influence of nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of concrete and on its durability. It also includes calcium leaching control. Moreover, the problem of efficient dispersion of nanoparticles is analyzed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.