Chemical and mechanical characterization of ternary cement pastes containing metakaolin and nanosilica

This paper, for the first time, focuses on the characterization of the chemical and mechanical properties of ternary cement pastes with the addition of up to 18% of metakaolin and colloidal nanosilica. The paste containing 15% of metakaolin and 3% of nanosilica presented an increase of 44% on the compressive strength and a reduction of 66% on the average pore diameter at the age of 91 days, in comparison with the reference paste. Results obtained remark the high potential of ternary cement mixes produced with the combination of metakaolin and nanosilica for the production of high performance cementitious materials.The authors would like to thank the postgraduate program in Structural Engineering and Construction from University of Brasília, Furnas Centrais Elétricas, Addendum to the Framework Agreement for Collaboration between University of Brasilia (UnB-Brazil) and Spanish National Research Council (CSIC-Spain) (ref: 201504001653451013W-2017), Eduardo Torroja Institute for Construction Science, Geology Institute from University of Brasília, Geochronology Laboratory from University of Brasília, Chemistry Institute from Federal University of Goiás, State University of Goiás and Unievangélica Center of Anápolis.Peer reviewe