Preparation and application of carbon nanotube nanofluid as a reinforcement of cement slurry

The mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) together with their high aspect ratios have drawn intense interest in their potential for use in composite materials. As common cement slurries are not capable of playing a major role in either preventing the degradation of a cement sheath or improving cement stability in cement-to-formation contacts, the idea of designing CNT-reinforced cements with a high Poisson's ratio, shorter thickening time and less free water and fluid loss came to mind. In this research, the properties of CNT–cement composites, which were synthesised by applying multi-wall CNT–water nanofluids in cement slurry, were thoroughly investigated. The results indicated that the Poisson's ratio of CNT–cement composite with 3 wt% multi-wall CNTs is four times greater than that of the unreinforced cement. Moreover, the free water and fluid loss of the former are 97·5% and 85·0% less than that of the latter.