Effect of nano-TiO2 on the properties of cementitious composites under different exposure environments

This article presents the effect of 1%, 3% and 5% content of nano-TiO2 (NT) on the fresh, hardened, microstructural and corrosion resistance properties of cementitious composites under different exposure environments (tap water, saline water and acidic solution). Various investigations such as setting time, compressive strength, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and potentiodynamic polarization studies were carried out. The setting time test confirmed that the NT acts as an accelerator. The 28 days-compressive strength of mortar increased with the addition of NT. The results of SEM and XRD analyses indicate that NT improved the microstructure and increased the amounts of desirable hydration products. The 360 days-compressive strengths of NT admixed mortar exposed under tap water, saline water and acidic solution were found to be higher than control mortar. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of NT was observed to be increasing with the increase in the dosage, in all the exposure environments. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.