Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

Investigation of the Effect of Adding Antimony Oxide Nanoparticles on the Acoustic and Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
leila shahryari 1
alireza javanmard 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
2 M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Shi.C.,Islamic Azad University,Shiraz, Iran
10.22065/jsce.2025.519472.3708
Abstract
Noise pollution is one of the most important environmental and health issues of the present era, which is expanding due to urban population growth, industrial development, and the expansion of transportation. One of the main strategies to address noise pollution is the use of sound insulation systems that can prevent sound transmission and reduce its negative effects on both indoor and outdoor environments. In this regard, concrete, as a well-known construction material with high mechanical properties, plays a special role in reducing noise pollution. Ordinary concrete naturally has properties that block the passage of some sound waves. However, the use of sound-insulating concrete can further improve noise reduction performance. Such concrete, with specific additives, has an increased ability to absorb and dissipate sound waves. In this study, the effect of adding nano antimony oxide to concrete and its influence on acoustic and mechanical properties were investigated. The aim of this research was to enhance the acoustic performance of concrete to reduce sound transmission and to increase its mechanical strength through the use of nano antimony. For this purpose, nano antimony dioxide was used at various ratios of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7%, and 0.9% by weight of cement in the concrete mixtures, which were subjected to slump, compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and sound transmission loss tests using an impedance tube. The results showed that the use of 0.9% nano antimony oxide can improve the acoustic performance of concrete, including reducing sound transmission. In addition, the use of 0.3% nano antimony oxide increased the 90-day compressive strength of concrete by 22%. However, the use of this material had no significant effect on the flexural or tensile strength of the concrete.
Keywords
Nano-Antimony
Sound Transmission Loss
Acoustic Performance
Impedance Tube
Nano materials
Subjects
[1] Nosrati, K., Khodadadi Dorban, A., and Abdollahi, M. (2015). Adsorption of antimony from Zarshouran gold factory wastewater using zero-valent iron nanoparticles coated on bentonite. Journal of Water and Wastewater, 26(1), 46–56.
[2] Farhamandzad, S., and Dashti, H. (2023). Nano materials and their application in concrete. Modern Research in Engineering Sciences, 48(8), 9–16.
[3] Farkhzad, K., Divan Dari, M., and Jasini, M. (2021). Comparison of the effect of nano calcium carbonate and nano silica on the properties of self-compacting concrete. Structural and Construction Engineering, 7(4), 187–201.
[4] Sedaghat, A., Anoushiravan, G., and Kambiz, K. (2016). The role of nanotechnology in construction and concrete technology. Applied Research in Engineering and Technical Sciences, 1(1), 79–90.
[5] Foroughi Asl, H., Houshyar, F., and Sina, F. (2022). The effect of nano zinc oxide on the mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete. Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tabriz University.
[6] Hashemi, S. Sh., Ganjali, A., Mirzakhani, M., and Irani, S. (2023). Investigation of the effect of slag, nano magnesium oxide, and nano copper oxide on the properties of ultra-high-performance concrete under different curing conditions using electrical resistance monitoring method. Concrete Research, 16(3), 81–92.
[7] Kapicová, A., Bílý, P., Fládr, J., Šeps, K., Chylík, R., and Trtík, T. (2024). Development of sound-absorbing pervious concrete for interior applications. Journal of Building Engineering, 85, 108697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108697
[8] Zhang, Y., Li, H., Abdelhady, A., and Du, H. (2022). Laboratorial investigation on sound absorption property of porous concrete with different mixtures. Construction and Building Materials, 259, 120414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120414
[9] Lin, S., Zhang, G., Sun, J., He, S., Chen, C., Morsy, A. M., and Wang, X. (2021). Acoustic performance optimization of a cementitious composite with a porous medium. Journal of Building Engineering, 44, 103362.
[10] Stolz, J., Boluk, Y., and Bindiganavile, V. (2018). Mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties of cellular alkali activated fly ash concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 94, 24–32.
[11] Polder, R., Peelen, W., and Courage, W. (2018). Non‐traditional assessment and maintenance methods for aging concrete structures: Technical and non‐technical issues. Materials and Corrosion, 69(9), 1147–1153.
[12] Chelangaran Navid, N., and Jabbari Mohammad Mahdi, M. (2018). The effect of using a combination of nano silica and metakaolin in concrete containing recycled fine rubber aggregate on mechanical properties of concrete.
[13] Ismaili, J., Andalibi, K., and Kasaei, J. (2018). Investigation of the effects of adding nano-alumina on the mechanical properties of concrete. In Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Tabriz, 15–30.
[14] Naderi, M., and Kaboudan, A. (2017). The effect of resistance, time, and amount of water pressure and direction of concreting on concrete permeability. Amirkabir Civil Engineering Journal, 1–19.
[15] Ghorbani Ali, A., Ghorbani Amin, A., and Shokati Gourabi Fatemeh, F. (2019). Comparison of tests related to fresh self-compacting concrete containing nanoparticles.
[16] Alizadeh Laski, R., and Ramazan, R. (2019). Comparison of tests related to fresh self-compacting concrete containing nanoparticles. Omidran va Projeh Journal, 1(3), 57–67.
[17] Shokouhfar, A., Salehi, A., and Vadoudi, M. (2020). The effect of different percentages of nano silica and steel fibers on the impact resistance of concrete. Essas Scientific-Research Quarterly, 22(58), 73–85.
[18] Kohsari, B., Bagheri, S., and Sasan, K. (2024). Mineralogy and origin of antimony mineralization in Sefidabeh and Hyderabad mines, Sistan fusion zone. Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy, 32(3), 509–524.
[19] Madandoust, R., and Deylami Poshtjooei, S. (2021). A study on the compressive strength, static and dynamic elastic modulus of self-compacting concrete containing nano materials.
[20] Zarei, H., Shahriari, P., Parhoodeh, A., and Karbakhsh, M. (2020). Study and analysis of the effects of nano-concrete in sustainable urban spaces (Case Study: Shiraz metropolis). Scientific & Research Quarterly of Urban Research and Planning, 10(39), 75–88.
[21] Silvestre, J., Silvestre, N., and De Brito, J. (2016). Review on concrete nanotechnology. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, 20(4), 455–485.
[22] Norhasri, M. M., Hamidah, M. S., and Fadzil, A. M. (2017). Applications of using nano material in concrete: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 133, 91–97.
[23] Amin, M., and Abu el-Hassan, K. (2015). Effect of using different types of nano materials on mechanical properties of high strength concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 80, 116–124.
[24] Abhilash, P. P., Nayak, D. K., Sangoju, B., Kumar, R., and Kumar, V. (2021). Effect of nano-silica in concrete; a review. Construction and Building Materials, 278, 122347.
[25] Said, A. M., Zeidan, M. S., Bassuoni, M. T., and Tian, Y. (2012). Properties of concrete incorporating nano-silica. Construction and Building Materials, 36, 838–844.
[26] Zhuang, C., and Chen, Y. (2019). The effect of nano-SiO2 on concrete properties: a review. Nanotechnology Reviews, 8(1), 562–572.
[27] Mohamed, A. M. (2016). Influence of nano materials on flexural behavior and compressive strength of concrete. HBRC Journal, 12(2), 212–225.
[28] Du, H., Du, S., and Liu, X. (2014). Durability performances of concrete with nano-silica. Construction and Building Materials, 73, 705–712.
[29] Chuah, S., Pan, Z., Sanjayan, J. G., Wang, C. M., and Duan, W. H. (2014). Nano reinforced cement and concrete composites and new perspective from graphene oxide. Construction and Building Materials, 73, 113–124.
[30] Singh, N. B., Kalra, M., and Saxena, S. K. (2017). Nanoscience of cement and concrete. Materials Today: Proceedings, 4(4), 5478–5487.
[31] Salemi, N., and Behfarnia, K. (2013). Effect of nano-particles on durability of fiber-reinforced concrete pavement. Construction and Building Materials, 48, 934–941.
[32] Farzin Ghadim Takmeh Dash, A. M., and Afshin, H. (2021). Investigation of some durability properties of concrete pavements containing nanoparticles. Journal of Amirkabir Civil Engineering, 1–10.
[33] Maarefvand, A., Arefian, A., and Alipour, P. (2018). Investigation of seismic behavior of continuous connection of steel beam to concrete column using nanotechnology in materials (Master’s thesis). Islamic Azad University, Shahriar Branch, 24–39.
[34] Chakherloo, J., and Shervani, B. (2019). Investigation of the effect of replacing silica sand with sand and quartz powder on the compressive strength of reactive powder concrete. Scientific-Research Journal, Modares Civil Engineering, 1–11.
[35] Sargunan, K., Venkata Rao, V., and Alex Rajesh, C. (2022). Experimental investigations on mechanical strength of concrete using nano-alumina and nano-clay. In International Conference on Emerging Trends in Material Science and Technology, 143–160.
[36] Lashgarit, H., Hosseinpour, M., Parvizi, S., and Momeni, A. (2017). Investigation of the effective parameters on Al6061/Al2o3.Wc.Sic composite by friction stir process. In Second National Conference On Computational And Experimental Mechanics, 10–18.
[37] Naderi, M., Kaboudan, A., and Keshtkar, M. (2016). Study of permeability and strength of concrete containing silica fume, zeolite, and fly ash using British standard cylindrical chamber method. Journal of Structural Engineering, 92–113.
[38] Behfarnia, K., and Salemi, N. (2013). The effects of nano-silica and nano-alumina on frost resistance of normal concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 48, 580–584.
[39] Muzenski, S., Flores-Vivian, I., and Sobolev, K. (2019). Ultra-high strength cement-based composites designed with aluminum oxide nano-fibers. Construction and Building Materials, 220, 177–186.
[40] Kalvandi, M., Rezaei, M., and Kalvandi, M. (2015). The effect of iron nanoparticles, iron oxide, titanium and silica particles on the properties and durability of concrete. In 2nd National Congress of Civil Engineering and Construction Projects, 20–31.
[41] Pillai, R., Gettu, R., Santhanam, M., Rengaraju, S., Dhandapani, Y., Rathnarajan, S., and Basavaraj, A. S. (2019). Service life and life cycle assessment of reinforced concrete systems with limestone calcined clay cement (LC3). Cement and Concrete Research, 111–119.
[42] Pachideh G, Gholhaki M, Ketabdari H. Effect of pozzolanic wastes on mechanical properties, durability and microstructure of the cementitious mortars. J Building Eng. 2020;29:101178.
[43] Pachideh G, Toufigh V. A study on the cementitious mortars containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes and nanographene. J Testing Eval. 2023;51(2):398‑415.
[44] Pachideh G, Gholhaki M. Using steel and polypropylene fibres to improve the performance of concrete sleepers. Proc Inst Civ Eng Struct Build. 2020;173(9):690‑702.
[45] Pachideh G, Gholhaki M, Rezaifar O. Experimental study on engineering properties and microstructure of expansive soils treated by lime containing silica nanoparticles under various temperatures. Geotech Geol Eng. 2021;39(6):4157‑68.

  • Receive Date 30 April 2025
  • Revise Date 06 September 2025
  • Accept Date 27 September 2025