Heating Performance and Electrical Properties of Cement Composites Using Conductive Films Coated with Multi-Walled...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced cement composites with improved electrical and heating functionalities is crucial for smart infrastructure.
• Integrating conductive materials like carbon nanotubes into construction materials presents a promising avenue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate conductive thin films using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films.
• To analyze the impact of these MWCNT-coated films, in combination with MWCNT dispersion, on the electrical and heating properties of cement composites.
• To optimize parameters such as mixing method, MWCNT concentration, applied voltage, and electrode spacing.

Main Methods:

• Uniform application of MWCNTs onto PET films via bar-coating to create conductive thin films.
• Fabrication of four groups of cement composites, including plain, MWCNT-coated film only, MWCNT dispersion only, and combined MWCNT dispersion and coated film.
• Characterization using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to confirm MWCNT distribution and network formation.
• Evaluation of electrical resistance and heating performance under varying experimental conditions.

Main Results:

• FE-SEM confirmed uniform MWCNT distribution and dense network formation on PET films.
• Cement composites utilizing both MWCNT dispersion and MWCNT-coated films exhibited significantly reduced electrical resistance.
• The combined approach notably enhanced the heating performance of the cement composites.
• Optimal performance was observed in the MDCF-0.75 specimen at 40 mm electrode spacing and 30 V applied voltage, showing the lowest resistance and highest heating.

Conclusions:

• The integration of MWCNT-coated PET films alongside MWCNT dispersion offers a synergistic approach to enhance cement composite properties.
• This method effectively improves electrical conductivity and heating capabilities, paving the way for functional cement-based materials.
• The study demonstrates a viable technique for creating advanced cement composites with tailored electrical and thermal performance.