Oman’s construction market size is estimated to be 6.82 billion USD at the end of 2024, and is anticipated to reach 8.02 billion USD by 2029. As per the goals and targets of Oman Vision 2040, the economic diversification plan of the country has been a key growth factor in the construction sector. The construction industry in Oman is now the second-largest contributor to the economy, apart from oil and gas sectors. Corrosion in steel reinforcement is a massive problem worldwide due to the interaction of material surface with the surrounding environment, exposure to iron, oxygen and water and complete control of corrosion is a challenging task. The lifespan of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures are reduced due to multiple reasons. Nanotechnology is an innovative and interdisciplinary field of emerging technology having widespread applications in corrosion control, environmental remediation, biomedical and materials engineering owing to their attractive nanoscale dimensions, enhanced surface area, and outstanding corrosion resistance with excellent microstructural properties.
Objectives
1. 1. Development of SiO2NPs and TiO2NPs;
2. 2. Characterization of the nanoparticles using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), and Braumer Emmet Teller surface area analyzer (BET) and to perform Nano coating on steel bar by dip coating techniques.
3. 3. Determination of the mix proportions for the C30 grade concrete using American Concrete Institute (ACI) code. Also, preparation of the different mix proportions of nanoparticles and concrete in minimizing the steel reinforcement corrosion and to optimize the dosage of nanoparticles as admixtures.
4. 4. Perform casting of RC beams with and without Nano thin film coated steel bars and Nano particles followed by corrosion studies using galvanostatic corrosion process.
5. 5. Determine and compare the flexural strength of RC beams with and without Nano thin film coated steel bars and/ or Nano particles after the corrosion process.
Funding Agency:
MOHERI
Collaborative Partners:
| Collaborator 1 | Abroad | India | Nanotechnology | Technical support |
| Collaborator 2 | Abroad | Nigeria | safety and sustainability | safety and environmental consultation |