Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers

Abstract We investigate the fracture response of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.5 wt% carbon nanofibers. We measure the elastoplastic response using microindentation tests. We note an increase in indentation modulus of 5%, 13%, and 21%, and an increase in indenta...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ange‐Therese Akono
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-09-01
Series:International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.10060
_version_ 1828465619294486528
author Ange‐Therese Akono
author_facet Ange‐Therese Akono
author_sort Ange‐Therese Akono
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We investigate the fracture response of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.5 wt% carbon nanofibers. We measure the elastoplastic response using microindentation tests. We note an increase in indentation modulus of 5%, 13%, and 21%, and an increase in indentation hardness of 9%, 18%, and 25%, respectively. We measure the fracture energy using cutting‐edge microscopic fracture tests. In our tests, a sphero‐conical diamond indenter pushes across the specimen's surface under a prescribed vertical force. We analyze the recorded penetration depth and horizontal force using nonlinear fracture mechanics and extract the fracture parameters. We find that carbon nanofibers enhance fracture resistance. The fracture toughness increases by, respectively, 38%, 40%, and 45%; meanwhile, the fracture energy increases by, respectively, 83%, 72%, and 74%. We find that carbon nanofibers lead to a densification of the microstructure. Moreover, we observe crack‐bridging mechanisms in geopolymer nanocomposites. This study is important to pave the way for novel enhanced‐performance and multifunctional structural materials.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T03:35:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-68479bea87bd426f8f69588b268ddf29
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2578-3270
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T03:35:40Z
publishDate 2020-09-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science
spelling doaj.art-68479bea87bd426f8f69588b268ddf292022-12-22T01:22:16ZengWileyInternational Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science2578-32702020-09-012523424210.1002/ces2.10060Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibersAnge‐Therese Akono0Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northwestern University Evanston Illinois USAAbstract We investigate the fracture response of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.5 wt% carbon nanofibers. We measure the elastoplastic response using microindentation tests. We note an increase in indentation modulus of 5%, 13%, and 21%, and an increase in indentation hardness of 9%, 18%, and 25%, respectively. We measure the fracture energy using cutting‐edge microscopic fracture tests. In our tests, a sphero‐conical diamond indenter pushes across the specimen's surface under a prescribed vertical force. We analyze the recorded penetration depth and horizontal force using nonlinear fracture mechanics and extract the fracture parameters. We find that carbon nanofibers enhance fracture resistance. The fracture toughness increases by, respectively, 38%, 40%, and 45%; meanwhile, the fracture energy increases by, respectively, 83%, 72%, and 74%. We find that carbon nanofibers lead to a densification of the microstructure. Moreover, we observe crack‐bridging mechanisms in geopolymer nanocomposites. This study is important to pave the way for novel enhanced‐performance and multifunctional structural materials.https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.10060alkali‐silica gelfracture toughnessscratch test
spellingShingle Ange‐Therese Akono
Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science
alkali‐silica gel
fracture toughness
scratch test
title Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
title_full Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
title_fullStr Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
title_full_unstemmed Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
title_short Fracture behavior of metakaolin‐based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
title_sort fracture behavior of metakaolin based geopolymer reinforced with carbon nanofibers
topic alkali‐silica gel
fracture toughness
scratch test
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.10060
work_keys_str_mv AT angethereseakono fracturebehaviorofmetakaolinbasedgeopolymerreinforcedwithcarbonnanofibers