title: Preparation of an ultra fast binding cement from calcium silicate-based mixed oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: Building construction takes time, in part because the binding process of cement is based on the slow re-crystallization and precipitation of calcium silicate species. Since the material's reactivity is surface area limited, a reduction in particle size of Portland cements has been used to prepare faster binding formulations. The present work investigates a new and direct, one-step preparation of calcium silicate-based nanoparticles of a typical Portland cement composition by flame spray synthesis. Isothermal calorimetry revealed that the hardening of this new nano-cement corroborated a more than tenfold increase of initial reactivity with different reaction kinetics if compared to conventionally prepared cements. At present, the unfavourably high porosity of nano-cements, however, underlines the need for additional improvements of chemical composition and formulation to make these highly reactive materials applicable to modern construction work, where load-bearing strength is of importance.
authors: Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Halim
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Brunner
authors: R N
authors: RN
authors: Grass
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bohner
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: Stark