Title:
Nano Silica-Enhanced Pavements—Paving the Way for a More Durable Concrete
Author(s):
Whitney Le Belkowitz
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/25/2020
Abstract:
The purpose of this presentation is to review a colloidal silica technologically used in a ready-mixed concrete to increase the resistance to the damaging effects of winter season freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts and brines. The nano-enhanced concrete (NEC) needed to be easy to batch and place as conventional concrete. Particularly, it had to develop fresh and hardened properties suitable for all construction sites and applications. The colloidal silica mix gives properly placed and cured concrete a significantly higher ultimate compressive strength with a substantially decreased permeability. Ultimately, the ready-mixed concrete producer wanted to deliver a tougher concrete surface and substrate that had decreased permeability. The end result translated directly to greater resistance to the damage caused by freeze-thaw conditions and heavy deicer applications.