Thermal, spectral and AFM studies of calcium silicate hydrate-polymer nanocomposite material

A non-ionic polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)) has been incorporated into the inorganic layers of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) during precipitation of quasicrystalline C–S–H from aqueous solution. C–S–H and a C–S–H-polymer nanocomposite (C–S–HPN) material were synthesized and characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si MAS NMR) and 13C cross-polarization nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CP NMR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Thermal conductivity of PVA, C–S–H and C–S–HPN material was studied in the temperature range 25–50°C. C–S–HPN materials exhibited the highest thermal conductivity at 25 and 50°C. The thermal conductivity increases from 25 to 50°C are 7.03, 17.46 and 14.85% for PVA, C–S–H and C–S–HPN material, respectively. Three significant decomposition temperature ranges were observed on the TG curve of C–S–HPN material.