Influence and Mechanism of Micro-Nano Bubble Water on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Stabilized Crushed Stone

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.0990

Abstract

Abstract:

Micro-nano bubble water （MNBW）， as an active mixing water with a high specific surface area and strong molecular activation capability， which can effectively promote the early-age hydration process of cement-based materials. In this study， MNBW was introduced into cement-stabilized crushed stone mixtures.Through compaction tests， physical and mechanical properties as well as the microstructure of cement-stabilized crushed stone were systematically investigated through compaction tests， physical and mechanical properties tests， and microstructural analyses （XRD， FTIR， and SEM）. The results indicate that compared with ordinary mixing water， the mixture prepared with MNBW exhibits a slightly increased maximum dry density and a reduced optimum moisture content， thereby improving its compaction characteristics. MNBW-mixed specimens exhibit higher unconfined compressive strength， splitting strength， and flexural tensile strength at different curing ages， with the most pronounced enhancement observed at early ages. In addition， the incorporation of MNBW effectively reduces the water absorption rate of cement-stabilized crushed stone， indicating an improvement in the internal pore structure of the material. Microstructural analyses show that MNBW promotes the formation of hydration products such as calcium silicate hydrate （C-S-H） gel and calcium hydroxide （CH）， resulting in a denser internal structure of specimens.

Key words: micro-nano bubble water, cement-stabilized crushed stone, hydration product, early-age strength, mechanical property

CLC Number:

U414

XIE Xiangbing, JIA Yapeng, LI Cheng, HOU Boyan, ZHANG Yanxiang, WAN Zhenmin, SHAO Jinggan. Influence and Mechanism of Micro-Nano Bubble Water on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Stabilized Crushed Stone[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(5): 1838-1850.

Figures/Tables 17

Table 1 Main chemical composition of cement

Chemical composition	CaO	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	MgO	SO₃	TiO₂	K₂O	Na₂O
Mass fraction/%	62.31	21.42	7.54	1.21	2.03	0.20	0.91	0.57

Table 2 Technical properties of aggregates

Particle size/mm	Apparent density/（g·cm^-3）	Crush value/%	Water absorption rate/%	Needle-like mass fraction/%
［0，2.36）	2.75	—	—	—
［2.36，4.75）	2.76	—	—	—
［4.75，9.50）	2.81	—	1.24	9.40
［9.50，19.00）	2.82	19.60	1.12	11.50
［19.00，31.50）	2.82	—	1.02	10.20

Fig.1 Preparation process and Tyndall effect of MNBW

Fig.2 Characteristics of micro-nano bubbles in MNBW and DW

Table 3 Aggregate gradation

Grading type		Mass percentage through different sizes of sieve/%
Grading type		31.50	19.00	9.50	4.75	2.36	0.60	0.08
CB-1	Standard requires	100	82~86	53~62	35~45	22~31	8~15	2~5
CB-1	Test grading curve	100	83.0	61.0	40.4	29.0	14.0	3.5
CB-3	Standard requires	100	68~86	38~58	22~32	16~28	8~15	0~3
CB-3	Test grading curve	100	78.0	50.3	31.0	25.6	11.6	2.5

Fig.3 Preparation process of cylindrical specimen and beam specimen

Table 4 Maximum dry density and optimum moisture content

Cement content/％	Grading type	Maximum dry density/（g·cm^-3）		Optimum moisture content/%
Cement content/％	Grading type	DW	MNBW	DW	MNBW
4.0	CB-1	2.400	2.414	5.16	5.00
4.0	CB-3	2.409	2.425	5.03	4.87
4.5	CB-1	2.415	2.426	5.30	5.17
4.5	CB-3	2.421	2.435	5.21	5.02
5.0	CB-1	2.428	2.436	5.50	5.27
5.0	CB-3	2.432	2.447	5.31	5.12

Fig.4 3 d unconfined compressive strength test results of specimen with different cement content

Fig.5 Unconfined compressive strength of CB-1 and CB-3 gradations

Fig.6 Splitting strength of CB-1 and CB-3 gradations

Fig.7 Flexural tensile strength of CB-1 and CB-3 gradations

Fig.8 Water absorption rate of CB-1 and CB-3 gradations

Fig 9 XRD patterns of DW and MNBW cement pastes（3，7，28 d）

Fig.10 FTIR spectra of DW and MNBW cement pastes （3，7，28 d）

Fig.11 SEM images of DW and MNBW cement-stabilized crushed stone at 7 d

Fig.12 SEM images of MNBW cement-stabilized crushed stone at 28 d

Fig.13 SEM images and EDS spectra of DW and MNBW cement-stabilized crushed stone at 7 and 28 d

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