Thermal, spectral and AFM studies of calcium silicate hydrate-polymer nanocomposite material

A non-ionic polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)) has been incorporated into the inorganic layers of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) during precipitation of quasicrystalline C-S-H from aqueous solution. C-S-H and a C-S-H-polymer nanocomposite (C-S-BPN) material were synthesized and characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Si-29 magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (Si-29 MAS NMR) and C-13 cross-polarization nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13 CP NMR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Thermal conductivity of PVA, C-S-H and C-S-HPN material was studied in the temperature range 25-50 degrees C. C-S-HPN materials exhibited the highest thermal conductivity at 25 and 50 degrees C. The thermal conductivity increases from 25 to 50 degrees C are 7.03, 17.46 and 14.85% for PVA, C-S-H and C-S-HPN material, respectively. Three significant decomposition temperature ranges were observed on the TG curve of C-S-HPN material.