Assessing disaster resilience of concrete with titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

In recent decades, the occurrence of extreme events has intensified across diverse regions of the world, inflicting substantial impacts on economies, safety, and the quality of life of affected populations. This reality underscores the urgent requirement for innovative solutions to mitigate such damages. Within this framework, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising paradigm, with nanoadditives distinguished as effective agents for enhancing the durability, impermeability, and mechanical strength of construction materials. Nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), silica, clay, and copper (Cu) have been associated with improvements in durability, strength-to-weight ratio, stability, and seismic resilience. The integration of these nanomaterials fosters densification of the concrete matrix by reducing voids and capillaries, thereby enhancing waterproofing and hindering the infiltration of deleterious substances. The present study offers an experimental investigation complemented by a comprehensive literature review, including water-absorption simulations and assessments of surface integrity in both treated and untreated materials. The objective is to evaluate the contributions of nanoadditives to safety, durability, and sustainability in the face of challenges posed by climate change. Results indicate that a 1% addition of nanoTiO2 yields the highest mechanical strength, while higher concentrations tend to reduce benefits due to particle agglomeration. This finding underscores the importance of optimizing nanoparticle content to enhance concrete resilience against natural disasters, contributing to sustainable construction practices. The comparison with copper-based additives reveals that, despite some relative strength gain over time, copper formulations fall short in mechanical performance, highlighting nanoTiO2 as a more promising agent for improving concrete durability in disaster-prone environments. Given the growing frequency of environmental disasters, the adaptation of civil construction through the sustainable incorporation of nanomaterials necessitates careful consideration of synthesis processes, long-term stability, and potential ecological impacts associated with nanoparticle interactions with biotic and abiotic environmental components.