Resumen
The study investigates the effect of carbon nanotubes on chloride penetration in nano-modified mortars and reports on the physical, electrical, and mechanical performance of the material. Mortars were artificially corroded and their surface electrical surface conductivity as well as flexural and compressive strength were measured. The influence of variable nanotube concentration in accelerated corrosion damage was evaluated. Nanotube concentration was found to significantly affect the permeability of the mortars; improvements in flexural and compressive response of mortars exposed to salt spray fog, compared to virgin specimens, were rationalized upon decreases in the apparent porosity of the materials due to filling of the pores with sodium chloride. Electrical resistivity was found to increase up to two orders of magnitude with respect to the surface value; above the percolation threshold, the property impressively increased up to five orders of magnitude.