Investigation of the Mechanical Strength of Cement Mortars Containing Novel Synthesised Chitosan/Hydromagnesite Stromatolite Nano-Composite

Abstract

This study introduces the use of a novel synthesised chitosan/hydromagnesite stromatolite (CHT/HS) nano-composite in cement mortars and investigates its effects on the mechanical properties. The proposed bio-based nano-composite was synthesised by a green sonication method using HS originating from Salda Lake (Burdur, Turkey). The chemical and morphological properties of HS and CHT/HS nano-composites were determined. Specimens including HS in ratios of 5 and 10 % and CHT/HS nanostructures with 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 % were tested for flexural and compressive strengths for 7 and 28 days. The novel synthesised CHT/HS nano-composite showed a clear enhancement in mechanical strength. These findings suggest directions for future work on different nano-filler applications.