Pore structure and chloride permeability of concrete containing nano-particles for pavement

Pore structure and chloride permeability of concrete containing nano-particles (TiO(2) and SiO(2)) for pavement are experimentally studied and compared with that of plain concrete, concrete containing polypropylene (PP) fibers and concrete containing both nano-TiO(2) and PP fibers. The test results indicate that the addition of nano-particles refines the pore structure of concrete and enhances the resistance to chloride penetration of concrete. The refined extent of pore structure and the enhanced extent of the resistance to chloride penetration of concrete are increased with the decreasing content of nano-particles. The pore structure and the resistance to chloride penetration of concrete containing nano-TiO(2) are superior to that of concrete containing the same amount of nano-SiO(2). However, for the concrete containing PP fibers, the pore structure is coarsened and the resistance to chloride penetration is reduced. The larger the content of PP fibers, the coarser the pore structure of concrete, and the lower the resistance to chloride penetration. For the concrete containing both nano-TiO(2) and PP fibers, the pore structure is coarser and the resistance to chloride penetration is lower than that of concrete containing the same amount of PP fibers only. A hyperbolic relationship between chloride permeability and compressive strength of concrete is exhibited. There is an obvious linear relationship between chloride permeability and pore structure of concrete. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.