Influence of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Performance Characteristics of Cement-Based Mortar
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Abstract
This study investigates the influence of nano titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on the mechanical, durability, and photocatalytic properties of fly ash-based cement mortar. Mortar mixes were prepared by partially replacing cement with 25% and 30% fly ash (F25 and F30) and incorporating varying contents of nano-TiO₂ (1%, 3%, and 5% by weight of binder). The compressive and flexural strengths were evaluated at 7 and 28 days, while water absorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue were tested at 28 days. Results showed that while fly ash replacement alone slightly reduced strength and did not contribute to photocatalytic activity, the addition of nano-TiO₂ substantially enhanced performance. The mix containing 1% TiO₂ (T01) demonstrated the highest compressive (49.48 MPa) and flexural (5.12 MPa) strength at 28 days, attributed to improved hydration kinetics and refined pore structure. Moreover, mixes with higher TiO₂ content (T03, T05) exhibited significantly lower water absorption and superior photocatalytic degradation, reaching up to 47.5%. These findings confirm that incorporating nano-TiO₂ is an effective strategy to improve both the mechanical integrity and environmental functionality of fly ash mortars.
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