Influence of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Silane-Modified ECC

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1154

Abstract

Abstract:

This study comprehensively investigated the influence patterns and mechanisms of internally incorporated silane types on the mechanical properties and water absorption properties of engineered cementitious composites （ECC） using multiple material testing techniques. It analyzed the evolution patterns and microscopic mechanisms of mechanical and water absorption properties for both unmodified ECC and isooctyl triethoxy silane IOTS modified ECC after freeze-thaw cycles. The results show that： except for γ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane （KH570）， neither IOTS nor N-（β-aminoethyl）-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane （KH792） causes a significant negative impact on the mechanical properties of ECC. Both KH570 and KH792 markedly delay the hydration heat release of the cementitious materials. The IOTS modified ECC exhibited the best hydrophobicity， maintaining its hydrophobic characteristics even after severe freeze-thaw damage. After freeze-thaw cycles， the compressive strength deterioration rate of IOTS-modified specimens is higher than that of unmodified specimens， but their flexural strength remains higher. As the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases， the relationship between the water absorption mass per unit area and the square root of time shifts from linear to bilinear for both types of specimens， and the duration of the initial linear stage shortens as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the hydrophobic design of ECC and its application and durability evaluation in freeze-thaw environments.

Key words: engineered cementitious composite, silane modification, freeze-thaw cycle, mechanical property, water absorption property, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance

CLC Number:

TU528

LIU Yajun, XUE Shanbin, ZHENG Zihao, SHI Zhihao, WANG Wenhuan. Influence of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Silane-Modified ECC[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(6): 1876-1891.

Figures/Tables 19

Table 1 Chemical composition of ordinary Portland cement and fly ash

Material	Mass fraction/%
Material	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	CaO	SO₃	MgO	Other
Cement	19.5	6.2	5.9	59.4	2.5	3.8	2.7
Fly ash	55.4	28.4	5.1	4.3	1.0	0.9	4.9

Fig.1 Molecular structure of three silanes

Table 2 Physicochemical properties of three silanes

Type of silane	IOTS	KH570	KH792
Molecular mass/（g·mol^-1）	276.49	248.35	222.36
Molecular formula	C₁₄H₃₂O₃Si	C₁₀H₂₀O₅Si	C₈H₂₂N₂O₃Si
Density/（g·mL^-1）	0.88	1.045	1.040

Table 3 Mix proportion of engineered cementitious composites

Sample No.	Mix proportion/（kg·m^-3）
Sample No.	Cement	Fly ash	Quartz sand	Water	Superplasticizer	PVA fiber	Silane
Unmodified ECC	550	650	550	300	6	23.4	0
Silane modified ECC	550	650	550	300	6	23.4	5.5

Fig.2 Specimen preparation and test flow chart

Fig.3 Effect of silane on mechanical property of ECC at different ages

Fig.4 Analysis of ECC pore structure and its correlation with mechanical property based on T2 spectrum

Fig.5 Monitoring of hydration heat release of unmodified and silane modified samples

Fig.6 FTIR spectra of unmodified and silane modified samples

Fig.7 Effects of different types of silane on water absorption property and water contact angle of ECC

Fig.8 Deterioration law of compressive and flexural strength of ECC after different freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.9 Evolution of v and Er of ECC after different freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.10 Appearance and SEM images of unmodified and IOTS-modified specimens after different freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.11 Changes of microhardness of ECC after 150 freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.12 T2 spectrum of unmodified and IOTS-modified specimens after different freeze-thaw cycles and evolution of different types of pore volume fraction

Fig.13 Water absorption data of unmodified and IOTS-modified specimens after different freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.14 Evolution of capillary water absorption coefficient and duration of initial linear water absorption phases for unmodified and IOTS-modified specimens with freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.15 Correlation between C and porosity of specimens before and after freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.16 Evolution of water contact angle for unmodified and IOTS-modified specimens with freeze-thaw cycles

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