Abstract
This study is devoted to the synthesis of aerated concrete by a non-autoclave method using ash from thermal power plants and a nanopreparation. Fullerenol-m was used as a nanopreparation. The fullerenol-m content in the sealing water of aerated concrete changed in the range of 0.00 ÷ 0.03 mas.%. The main performance characteristics of the nanostructured aerated concrete were studied, namely the compressive strength, impact toughness, thermal conductivity, density and moisture content. A significant improvement in the performance characteristics of the nanomodified aerated concrete compared to unmodified samples was demonstrated, which was most clearly manifested as an increase in impact toughness by several (three to five) times. The best performance characteristics of the modified aerated concrete were observed at a fullerenol-m concentration relative to the added cement within 0.022–0.028 wt.%. The authors attribute such a strong change and improvement in the physical, chemical and operational properties of aerated concrete when modified with fullerenol-m to the fact that fullerenol-m (a few thousandths of wt.%) has a very strong structuring effect on the sealing water and, as a consequence, on the resulting aerated concrete.