Resistance of an eco-friendly nano-polymer fireproof cementitious composite to physical and chemical environments

Abstract The durability of an eco-friendly nano-polymer fireproof cementitious composite was evaluated under various acceleration deterioration environments. The composite, a polymer-cement mortar-based mixture, in which a portion of the cement was substituted by nanoclay, chamotte, and silica fume, has an eco-friendly design as it uses recycled industrial by-products and produces less CO 2 emissions. The durability of the eco-friendly composite was examined with respect to its physical deterioration under repeated freeze and thaw cycles, and its chemical deterioration via sulphate and chloride ion penetration. This study further reviewed the relationship between the mechanical properties and internal structure of the composite by examining its pore structure, employing nitrogen gas absorption. The composite had higher early compressive strength and a smaller total pore volume compared with a conventional polymer cementitious composite. The flexural strength of the eco-friendly nano-polymer fireproof cementitious composite was 5.12–56.5% higher than that of the conventional composite. In terms of the composite durability after being exposed to accelerated deterioration environments, the as-prepared composite showed >90% residual compressive strength, regardless of the environmental conditions, thus confirming that the eco-friendly nano-polymer fireproof cementitious composite is resistant to chemical exposure and repeated freezing and thawing.