Effect of undensified silica fume on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes within a cementitious composite

The synergistic effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Undensified Silica Fume (USF) on the microstructure of cementitious composites has been studied. In the current work, USF was used to enhance the dispersion of nanotubes throughout the composite and prevent the re-agglomeration of nanotubes by providing a physical barrier of particles of small size. Ultrasonication was employed to disperse MWCNTs in water in the presence of polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer (PCE) as a dispersion agent. The results indicate that incorporation of USF considerably improves the dispersion of nanotubes in the composites, with subsequent enhancement of composite packing density. This enhancement can be attributed to the synergistic effect of MWCNTs and USF in reducing the volume of pores through the cementitious composites