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6871922 
Journal Article 
Optimizing Mechanical Properties of Binary Blended Concrete Utilizing CuO Nanoparticles (Retracted article. See vol. 29, pg. 201, 2020) 
Nazari, Ali; Riahi, S; , 
2012 
Yes 
International Journal of Damage Mechanics
ISSN: 1056-7895 
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD 
LONDON 
81-96 
WOS:000300183500004 
has retraction 10505281 Ductile to Brittle Transition Temperature of Functionally Graded Steels (Retraction of Vol 21, Pg 191, 2012)
Mechanical properties of concrete specimens containing CuO nanoparticles which were cured in saturated limewater have been optimized. CuO nanoparticles were partially added to concrete as nano-fillers. The specimens were cured in water and saturated limewater for 7, 28, and 90 days after casting and then their strengths were evaluated by mechanical tests (compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength tests). The results showed that replacement of Portland cement with CuO nanoparticles up to 1.0 wt.% for the specimens cured in water and 2.0% for the specimens cured in saturated limewater produces concrete with the best strength. It has been observed that the specimens cured in saturated limewater for 28 days and then in water until 90 days produce more strengthened concrete than those cured only in saturated limewater for 90 days. Excess Ca(OH)(2) crystals which form after 28 days, when the specimens cured in limewater, do not contribute to strength enhancement as strong as C-S-H gel and hence, the mechanical properties of the specimens do not reach the maximum level. On the other hand, curing the specimens in water after 28 days produces more strengthening gel resulting in a concrete with higher strength. The addition of nanoparticles improves the pore structure of concretes; thus, the refined extent of pore structure increases with decreasing nanoparticle content. The pore structure of concretes which were cured in saturated limewater is better than that of concretes cured in water.