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Abstract
Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-Portland cement (PC) composites have been reported to have good potential for use in smart structures. In this work, PZT-PC composites containing 40%, 50% and 60% of PZT by volume were produced and their mechanical and hydration properties were investigated. Compressive strengths of those typically used in normal concrete were found for all PZT-PC composites, with measured values of 41.5–45.0 MPa. Hydration products of Portland cement detected by thermal analysis were calcium silicate hydrates (the main cement hydration product), calcium hydroxide and ettringite. Furthermore, calcium silicate hydrates and ettringite can also be observed surrounding the PZT grains in the SEM micrograph.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Professor Tawee Tunkasiri and staff members at the Chiang Mai University Electroceramics Research Laboratory for the research facilities which made this work possible. The authors would like to express their gratitude for the Research Grant awarded to Assistant Prof. Dr. Arnon Chaipanich by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), the Commission on Higher Education (Thailand) and Chiang Mai University. The authors are also grateful to the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) for the TRF Senior Research Scholar Contract No. RTA5480004 awarded to Professor Dr. Prinya Chindaprasirt.