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Multi-layered cement-hydrogel composite with high toughness, low thermal conductivity, and self-healing capability

Author

Listed:
  • Yuan Chen

    (Southeast University)

  • Yangzezhi Zheng

    (Southeast University)

  • Yang Zhou

    (Southeast University)

  • Wei Zhang

    (Southeast University)

  • Weihuan Li

    (Southeast University)

  • Wei She

    (Southeast University)

  • Jiaping Liu

    (Southeast University)

  • Changwen Miao

    (Southeast University)

Abstract

The inherent quasi-brittleness of cement-based materials, due to the disorder of their hydration products and pore structures, present significant challenges for directional matrix toughening. In this work, a rigid layered skeleton of cement slurry was prepared using a simplified ice-template method, and subsequently flexible polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel was introduced into the unidirectional pores between neighboring cement platelets, resulting in the formation of a multi-layered cement-based composite. A toughness improvement of over 175 times is achieved by the implantation of such hard-soft alternatively layered microstructure. The toughening mechanism is the stretching of hydrogels at the nano-scale and deflections of micro-cracks at the interfaces, which avoid stress concentration and dissipate huge energy. Furthermore, this cement-hydrogel composite also exhibits a low thermal conductivity (around 1/10 of normal cement) and density, high specific strength and self-healing properties, which can be used in thermal insulation, seismic high-rise buildings and long-span bridges.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan Chen & Yangzezhi Zheng & Yang Zhou & Wei Zhang & Weihuan Li & Wei She & Jiaping Liu & Changwen Miao, 2023. "Multi-layered cement-hydrogel composite with high toughness, low thermal conductivity, and self-healing capability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39235-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39235-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shuihong Zhu & Sen Wang & Yifan Huang & Qiyun Tang & Tianqi Fu & Riyan Su & Chaoyu Fan & Shuang Xia & Pooi See Lee & Youhui Lin, 2024. "Bioinspired structural hydrogels with highly ordered hierarchical orientations by flow-induced alignment of nanofibrils," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Xing Ming & Wen Si & Qinglu Yu & Zhaoyang Sun & Guotao Qiu & Mingli Cao & Yunjian Li & Zongjin Li, 2024. "Molecular insight into the initial hydration of tricalcium aluminate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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