TY - JOUR AU - Sanjuán, M. A. AU - Argiz, C. AU - Gálvez, J. C. AU - Reyes, E. PY - 2018/03/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Combined effect of nano-SiO2 and nano-Fe2O3 on compressive strength, flexural strength, porosity and electrical resistivity in cement mortars JF - Materiales de Construcción JA - Mater. constr. VL - 68 IS - 329 SE - Research Articles DO - 10.3989/mc.2018.10716 UR - https://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/2211 SP - e150 AB - The compressive strength, flexural strength, porosity and electrical resistivity properties of cement mortars with nano-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and nano-SiO<sub>2</sub> are studied. Amorphous silica is the main component of pozzolanic materials due to its reaction with calcium hydroxide formed from calcium silicate (C<sub>3</sub>S and C<sub>2</sub>S) hydration. The pozzolanic reaction rate is not only proportional to the amount of amorphous silica but also to the surface area available for reaction. Subsequently, fine nano-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and nano-SiO<sub>2</sub> particles in mortars are expected to improve mortar performance. The experimental results showed that the compressive strength of mortars with nano-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and nano-SiO<sub>2</sub> particles were lower than those obtained with the reference mortar at seven and 28 days. It was shown that the nano-particles were not able to enhance mechanical strength on every occasion. The continuous microstructural progress monitored by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) measurements, pore-size distribution (PSD), total porosity and critical pore diameter also confirmed such results. ER -