Atomistic Insight on Effect of Silica Fume on Intermolecular Interactions between Poly(carboxylate) Superplasticizer and Calcium Ions in Concrete
Rakhimbayev B. Mukashev B. Kusherova P. Serikkanov A. Kemelbekova A. Agybayev K. Aldongarov A. Almas N.
July 2024Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Nanomaterials
2024#14Issue 13
Understanding how poly(carboxylate)s of chemical admixtures interact with calcium ions in cement pore solutions in the presence of silica fume is fundamental to developing better chemical admixtures for concrete production. In this work, the intermolecular interactions of calcium ions with a poly(carboxylate) superplasticizer type of chemical admixture was investigated via classical all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation methods in the presence of silica fume. The classical all-atom MD simulation and DFT calculation results indicate that calcium ions are interacting with oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group of PCE. The better interaction energy could mean an improved adsorption of the PCE segment with calcium ions. In this regard, it can be noted that the ester-based PCE segment could have a better adsorption onto calcium ions in comparison with the ether-based PCE segment. Moreover, the presence of silicon dioxide could improve the adsorption of the PCE segment onto calcium ions.
atomistic models , binding , concrete , poly(carboxylate) , silica fume
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Institute of Physics and Technology, Satbayev University, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Technical Physics, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Hydrogen Energy, International Science Complex Astana, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Physics and Technology
Department of Technical Physics
Institute of Hydrogen Energy
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
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