Abstract
This study investigated the effect of using calcium carbonate (CaCO
3
) nanoparticles on the microstructural properties, flexural strength and fracture toughness of ceramic nanomaterials. The flexural strength and fracture toughness were evaluated for CaCO
3
nanoparticle contents of 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of cement powder. The microstructural analyses from X-ray diffraction showed that nano-CaCO
3
improved the microstructure of nanocomposites because it reduces the tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate peaks and increases the calcium silicate hydrate products. Moreover, the results showed that the nanocomposites with 1 wt% nano-CaCO
3
exhibited the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness compared to the other composites owing to the filler and nucleation effect of nano-CaCO
3
. In addition, nano-CaCO
3
could resist the unstable micro-crack propagation in cement nanocomposites by filling the micro-cracks and voids. Future applications in synthesis or steel fiber-reinforced concrete or ceramic nanocomposites could benefit from the use of the analyses presented in this study.