Research in Nano for Civil Engineers

1. NANO TECH
IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING
Dr. N. SELVAKUMAR, M.E., Ph.D., FIE.,
Senior Professor,
Centre for Nano Technology,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi.
E mail: nselva@mepcoeng.ac.in, nsk2966@gmail.com
AICTE sponsored online STTP on
"Conservation of Energy and Environmental through Sustainable Engineering“
Department of Civil Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi

2. Overview
 Nano – Basic exposure
 Nano materials in Civil Engineering
 PCM for Energy Conservation in Buildings
 Challenges in handling nano materials
 Centre for Nano technology @ Mepco
 Conclusion

3. We are in the Nanotech World

4. Nano - How big are we talking about?
Billions of
nanometers
A two meter tall male is
two billion nanometers.
A million
nanometers
The pinhead sized patch
of this thumb is a million
nanometers across.
Thousands of
nanometers
Biological cells have
diameters in the range of
thousands of nanometers.
Nanometers
Ten shoulder-to-shoulder
hydrogen atoms span 1
nanometer. DNA
molecules are about 2.5
nanometers wide.
Less than a
nanometer
Individual atoms are up
to a few tenths of a
nanometer in diameter.

5. Chemical
methods
Physical
methods

6. Nano…. bélongs to………

7. What makes the nanoscale special?
1. High density of structures is possible with small size.
2. Physical and chemical properties can be different at the
nano-scale (e.g. electronic, optical, mechanical, thermal,
chemical).
3. The physical behavior of material can be different in the
nano-regime because of the different ways physical
properties scale with dimension (e.g. area vs. volume).
Prof. Richard Feynman
“There’s plenty of room at the bottom”

8. Physical/chemical properties can change as we approach the
nano-scale
Melting point of gold particles Fluorescence of semiconductor
nanocrystals
By controlling nano-scale (1) composition, (2) size, and (3) shape, we can
create new materials with new properties  New technologies
Decreasing crystal size

9. Highlights of Nano in Civil Engg.
- The use of nano-particles, carbon nano-tubes and
nano-fibers to increase the strength and durability of
cementitious composites as well as for pollution
reduction.
- Production of cheap corrosion free steel.
- Production of thermal insulation materials with
performance of 10 times the current commercial
options.
- Production of coats and thin films with self-cleaning
ability and self-colour change to minimize energy
consumption.

10. CNT comparison

11. NANO PARTICLES MAINLY USED IN CONCRETE ARE:--
1.NANO SILICA
2.TITANIUM DIOXIDE
3.CARBON-NANOTUBE
4.FLY ASH
Concrete
Hydrophobic sand make
green desert

12. Steel
The addition of nanoparticles of magnesium and calcium
leads to an increase in weld toughness.
The new steel is developed with higher corrosion-
resistance by incorporating copper nanoparticles.
The addition of copper nanoparticles reduces the surface
unevenness of steel which then limits the number of
stress risers.
Carbon Nanotubes provide Light weight, High thermal &
electrical conductivity, high compressive strength and
Excellent tensile strength compared to conventional
steel.

13. The use of TiO2 nanoparticles to glasses
leads to so-called self cleaning technology.
Due to the nanoparticles photocatalytic
reactions, the organic pollutants, volatile
organic compounds and bacterial
membranes are decomposed.
TiO2 being hydrophilic, has attraction to
water forms drops which then wash off the
dirt particles decomposed in the previous
process.
Fire protective glass is obtained using
fumed silica (SiO2) nanoparticles.
Glass

14. Fire protection
Nano-cement made of nanosized particles has the
potential to create tough, durable, high temperature
coating by using carbon nanotubes.
Polypropylene fibres are also considered as a method of
increasing fire resistance and this is a cheaper option
than conventional insulation.

15. TiO2 is used to coat glazing because of its sterilizing and anti
fouling properties.
TiO2 will break down and disintegrate organic dirt through
powerful catalytic reaction, allows the water to spread
evenly over the surface and wash away previously broken
down dirt.
Other special coatings also have been developed, such as
thermal control, energy saving, anti-reflection coating etc.,
Coatings

16. Water purification using nanotechnology exploits nanoscopic
materials such as CNT and alumina fibers for Nano filtration.
The adsorption of chlorine concentration is much higher by using
nanotechnology (350 g/m2) as compared to conventional
method of purification (220 g/m2).
Nano sensors, such as those based on titanium oxide nanowires
or palladium nanoparticles are used for analytical detection of
contaminants in water samples.
Water purification

18. Nanomaterials in Civil Engineering

23. Corrosion Inhibitors

25. Phase Change Materials for Energy Efficiency In Buildings
 Several new technologies are emerging to realize the goal of reducing
energy usage in buildings.
 Using the latent heat capacity of a class of materials called Phase Change
Materials (PCM), to store thermal energy at required operating
temperature range.
 PCM have certain undesirable properties like poor thermal conductivity
and leakage upon melting.
 To overcome this, nano silica is added to improve the thermal conductivity
and also it imparts high strength & durability to the PCM imposed building.

26. Materials
Fatty Acids:
1. Lauric Acid (LA)
2. Palmitic Acid (PA)
Strength Enhancing material: Nano Silica
Form stable material: Expanded Perlite (EP)

27. AFM ANALYSIS

28. FE-SEM WITH EDAX
PARTICLE SIZE
DISTRIBUTION

29. FE-SEM WITH EDAX

30. LEAKAGE TEST
S.NO COMPOSITION LEAKAGE (%)
a LA-PA 1386
b LA-PA &1% NS 1188
c LA-PA&2%NS 792
d LA-PA&3%NS 594

31. FT-IR TEST

32. DSC ANALYSIS for LA-PA eutectic
Melting and solidifying temperature of the PCM are 38.01℃ and 35.25℃
respectively. The latent heat of melting and solidifying are 164.19 J/g and
147.70 J/g respectively.

33. DTA & DTG ANALYSIS
Operating temperature of eutectic sample is 40.94℃ with a residual mass
of 1.95% which infers that there is only a negligible weight loss and the
maximum temperature is about 249.5℃. The onset temperature falls to
38.01℃. Therefore, the prepared eutectic sample has a good thermal
stability in their operational temperature.

34. Specimen
Composition
(% )
No of
Samples
For a single specimen
Cement (kg) Sand
(kg)
Silica Fume
(kg)
PCM
(kg)
Water
(l)
Mortar Cube
0 PCM 9 0.22 0.6386 0 0 0.088
0 PCM+1.5% SF 9 0.187 0.033 0 0.088
2.5 PCM +1.5%SF 9 0.187 0.6386 0.033 0.0055 0.088
MIX DESIGN

35. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Specimen Load (kN) Surface
Area (mm2)
Compressi
ve Strength
@ 7days
(N/mm2)
0% PCM 68.2 4984.36 13.6
0%PCM +
1.5% SF
68.4 4984.36 14.2
2.5%PCM+
1.5%SF
48.5 4984.36 9.73

36. Specimen Load (kN) Surface Area
(mm2)
Compressive
Strength @
14days (N/mm2)
0% PCM 70.4 4984.36 20.4
0%PCM +
1.5% SF
72.6 4984.36 21.2
2.5% PCM +
1.5% SF
77.2 4984.36 17.4

37. Specimen Load (kN) Surface Area
(mm2)
Compressive
Strength @
28days (N/mm2)
0% PCM 87.1 4984.36 25.6
0%PCM +
1.5% SF
76.2 4984.36 26.4
2.5%PCM+1.5
%SF
102.2 4984.36 20.05

38. Challenges
Because of quantum size effects and large surface
area to volume ratio, nanomaterials have unique
properties compared with their larger counterparts.
To better assess the biological effects of
nanomaterials, researchers have developed a rapid
screening tool that can evaluate large numbers of
nanomaterials and identify groups of materials that are
more likely to pose a risk.

40. Based on the importance and needs of Nano Science and Technology,
Mepco Schlenk Engineering College has established Nano Science and
Technology building with well-equipped laboratory facilities.

41. An exclusive building for Nano science and Technology has been
constructed at the cost of Rs.1.50 crore with a total area of 1100m². It
consists of an air conditioned conference hall, synthesis, process and
characterization lab with various advanced equipments.

42.  Worth of Equipments : Rs. 2.50 Crores
◦ Glove Box Work Station
◦ RF/DC Sputtering Unit
◦ Electro Chemical Work Station
◦ Spin Coater , Centrifuge
◦ UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
◦ Planetary Monomill
◦ Ultrasonic Processor
◦ Zeta Sizer, Goniometer
◦ FT-IR, Fluorescence Spectrophotometer
◦ Atomic Force Microscope
◦ Scanning Electron Microscope
◦ ICP Spectrometer
◦ Pin on Disc wear tester, CTM
◦ Wire Chamber Furnace, Inert gas circulated vacuum furnace

43. THANK YOU…