Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Cement‐Based Materials Using Nano‐SiO 2 and Mechano‐Chemical Activation

ABSTRACT Nanotechnology has fundamentally transformed our outlook, aspirations, and ability to manipulate materials, showing significant promise for the development of advanced building materials. Portland cement, one of the most widely used materials globally, holds considerable untapped potential. A deeper understanding of the complex nanoscale structure of cement‐based materials is expected to yield a new class of concrete with enhanced “smart” features, such as increased strength, durability, and specialized stress–strain characteristics. This study examined the mechanical properties of mortar mixes incorporating nanosized SiO 2 particles produced via the sol–gel method. The experimental results revealed an initial increase in the compressive strength of these mortars during early curing stages, followed by a reduction in strength at later ages compared to the reference mixture. It was proposed to include a superplasticizer in order to overcome this restriction, and after 90 days, the compressive strength increased by 18% to reach 140 MPa. Furthermore, it was shown that mechano‐chemical activation was a useful method for fortifying cement‐based materials. Solid‐state interactions between organic modifiers and cement particles propel this process, forming organo‐mineral nano‐layers or nano‐grids as the functional groups in the modifiers attach to the cement surfaces.