Investigating the properties and microstructure of high-performance cement composites with nano-silica, silica fume, and ultra-fine TiO2

Nanomaterials find widespread use in industries, including construction, due to their superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics. Addressing cement composites’ weaknesses like low tensile strength and brittleness, researchers increasingly use supplementary cementitious materials and nanoparticles. This study investigates the effects of varied proportions of silica fume (SF), nano-silica (nS), and ultra-fine TiO2 (UFTiO2) in both mixed and separate phases on cement composites. SF represents the pozzolanic family, while nS and UFTiO2 stand for nanomaterials. Tests measured compressive, flexural, and impact strengths, abrasion resistance, and electrical resistivity. Scanning electron microscopy examined microstructure-property relationships. SF and nS enhanced the mechanical strength of the composites, with SF proving superior in durability. The addition of UFTiO2 increased the compressive strength slightly for SF samples (4–7