Influence of the surface treatment of hardened cement mortar with colloidal nano-silica and TEOS

Abstract

Two types of silicate material, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and colloidal nanoSiO2 (CNS), were applied for surface treatment of hardened cement mortar by exploring their filling and pozzolanic reactivity to make the surface compacter. Results showed that the water adsorption coefficient, the water vapor transmission rate, and the water penetration depth were reduced when CNS and TEOS were applied onto the surface of hardened cement mortar, and TEOS exhibits a superior effect on surface treatment, making the mass-transport rate and extent smaller than CNS does.