Hydration processes of cement stone modified with copper/carbon mesoscopic composite

The article discusses the properties of a Portland cement-based composite modified with a suspension of copper/carbon mesoscopic Cu/C MK composite based on a polycarboxylate plasticizer. A copper/carbon mesoscopic composite (nanocomposite) is a nanoscale formation from a cluster of copper nanoparticles associated with a carbon shell. The additive in the form of a suspension of copper/carbon mesoscopic composite in an aqueous solution of polycarboxylate plasticizer contained 0.05% Cu/C MK relative to the weight ofportland cement. There is an increase in the compressive strength of the modified composite at the age of 28 days by 18% compared with the control (unmodified) sample. The difference in strength gain is observed on the 7th day after the start of hydration. Infrared spectral analysis, differential thermal analysis and X-ray microanalysis of modified samples at the age of 7 days were performed. According to the results obtained, it is assumed that the modifying additive contributes to a stronger binding of water in crystallohydrates than in samples without an additive, and mesoscopic copper/ carbon composite particles act as additional crystallization centers.