Influence of TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Physical, Mechanical, and Structural Characteristics of Cementitious...

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NTs) on the physical and mechanical properties, as well as the microstructural changes, of cementitious composites containing partially substituted natural aggregates (NAs) with aggregates derived from the following four recycled materials: glass (RGA), brick (RGB), blast-furnace slag (GBA), and recycled textolite waste with WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment) as the primary source (RTA), in line with sustainable construction practices. The research methodology included the following phases: selection and characterization of raw materials, formulation design, experimental preparation and testing of specimens using standardized methods specific to cementitious composite mortars (including determination of apparent density in the hardened state, mechanical strength in compression, flexure, and abrasion, and water absorption by capillarity), and structural analysis using specialized techniques (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)). The analysis and interpretation of the results focused primarily on identifying the effects of NT addition on the composites. Results show a decrease in density resulting from replacing NAs with recycled aggregates, particularly in the case of RGB and RTA. Conversely, the introduction of TiO₂ nanoparticles resulted in a slight increase in density, ranging from 0.2% for RTA to 7.4% for samples containing NAs. Additionally, the introduction of TiO₂ contributes to improved compressive strength, especially in samples containing RTA, while flexural strength benefits from a 3-4% TiO₂ addition in all composites. The compressive strength ranged from 35.19 to 70.13 N/mm², while the flexural strength ranged from 8.4 to 10.47 N/mm². The abrasion loss varied between 2.4% and 5.71%, and the water absorption coefficient varied between 0.03 and 0.37 kg/m²m^0.5, the variations being influenced by both the nature of the aggregates and the amount of NTs added. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis showed that TiO₂ nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the cementitious composites, mainly forming CSH gel. TiO₂ nanoparticles act as nucleating agents during early hydration, as confirmed by EDS spectra after curing.