Nanocharacterization of Cementitious Composites: Unveiling Properties at Multiscale

This book offers a systemic introduction and summarization of nanoscale characterization techniques on cementitious materials. Cementitious composites are ubiquitous in the realm of construction, serving as the backbone of infrastructure worldwide. These materials, typically composed of cement, aggregates, and water, exhibit a complex interplay of mechanical, chemical, and physical properties. In the introductory chapter, we delve into the fundamental aspects of cementitious composites, exploring their composition, structure, and significance in the construction industry. In the second chapter, we introduced the advancements and applications of nano-characterization techniques for cementitious materials including nanoindentation, nanoscratch, modulus mapping, atomic force microscopy-based nanomechanical mapping techniques. Therefore, in the third chapter, the cementitious materials sample surface processing procedure was introduced. In the fourth chapter, nanoindentation, modulus mapping and PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PeakForce QNM) test results were comparatively analysed. In chapter five and six, the nanoscale mechanical properties of sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) gel in geopolymer paste with and without nanoparticles was evaluated by grid nanoindentation tests. The nano/micromechanical properties of interfacial transition zones in ordinary concrete, recycled aggregate concrete and geopolymer concrete were investigated in chapter seven, eight and nine. Modelled aggregate samples were used to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary workload in the microscopic characterization. Finally, challenges and future directions were discussed in chapter ten from cementitious sample surface preparation methods, microscopic characterization method for cementitious materials and testing strategies for complicated interfacial transition zones.

Wengui Li is Scientia Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia. He earned a joint doctoral degree from Tongji University and Northwestern University in 2013. From 2010 to 2013, he was Predoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) at Northwestern University, USA. With expertise in linking the material properties of concrete to structural responses across multiple scales, he founded the “Intelligent Concrete and Infrastructure Materials” (ICIM) research group within the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES) at UNSW.

Hanbing Zhao received his Ph.D. from University of Technology Sydney in 2024, and he currently works at the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia. His research interests cover sustainable construction materials, nanocharacterization, and nanomodification.

Kejin Wang is currently Willison Engineering Professor at Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering in Iowa State University (ISU). She received her Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley, USA, in 1994. After her Ph.D. graduation, she joined the NSF Center for Advanced Cement-Based Building Materials (ACBM) at Northwestern University, Illinois, USA, as Research Fellow and then Director of the educational program.