This review provides a comparison of submicron-diameter carbon filaments and conventional carbon fibers as fillers in composite materials. Carbon filaments (0.1 mm diameter, catalytically grown) are superior to conventional carbon fibers (discontinuous) as a filler in providing polymer–matrix and cement–matrix composites for electromagnetic performance, but are inferior to the fibers as a fille...

Cement-based sensors with hybrid conductive fillers using both carbon fibers (CFs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were experimentally investigated in this study. The self-sensing capacities of cement-based composites with only CFs or MWCNTs were found based on preliminary tests. The results showed that the percolation thresholds of CFs and MWCNTs were 0.5-1.0 vol.% and 1.0 vol.%, re...

Fiber cement, similarly to all cementitious materials, undergoes dimensional and volumetric changes when it is exposed to dry and wet environments. When exposed to natural weathering, cement-based materials absorbs and may also release water to their surroundings via a very complex inherent pore structure. In this work initialized a few years ago, some properties of asbestos-free fiber cement c...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the carbon-based nanomaterial type on the electrical properties of cement paste. Three different nanomaterials, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphite nanofibers (GNFs), and graphene (G), were incorporated into the cement paste at a volume fraction of 1%. The self-sensing capacity of the cement composites was also investigated by comp...

In this work, we found that by controlling the size of the graphene oxide nanosheets (GON) at 5–140 nm, 5–260 nm and 5–410 nm, respectively, we could prepare regular shaped cement hydration crystals with the shape of nano-needle-like, flower-like, and polyhedron-like crystals, respectively. Together, these crystals formed an ordered structure of cement composites on both the micro and macro lev...

This paper reviews recent research on cement based composites design for damage tolerance. Specific focus is placed on the influence of fiber and interface properties on the complementary energy of the composite crack bridging behavior, which in turn governs the mechanics of composite fracture. The theoretical concepts are illustrated with examples of highly damage tolerant cement based composi...

As structural materials, cement-matrix composites have received much attention in terms of their mechanical properties, but relatively little attention in terms of their electrical conduction properties. Nevertheless, the electrical properties are relevant to the use of the structural materials for non-structural purposes such as sensing and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The abi...

In this research, strain-sensing and damage-sensing functional properties of cement composites have been studied on a conventional reinforced concrete (RC) beam. Carbon nanofiber (CNFCC) and fiber (CFCC) cement composites were used as sensors on a 4 m long RC beam. Different casting conditions (in situ or attached), service location (under tension or compression) and electrical contacts (embedd...

In this work, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has been evaluated as a potential reinforcement for cement mortar composites. Two types of vegetable fibres with different composition and properties (cellulose content and microfibrillar angle), sisal, and cotton linters pulps, were initially characterised in order to assess their reinforcing capability. Sisal pulp was found to be most suitable as ...

Cement-based composites are among the most widely-used construction materials due to their low cost, high compressive strength, high durability, versatility, and easy-handling. Unfortunately, cement-based composites are intrinsically porous and may deteriorate as a result of exposure to harsh environments or poor construction quality. Over the last few decades, most research has focused on the ...