Innovative Application of Standard Sand as a Functional Carrier for Nano-Silica in Cement

Nano-silica (NS) is used to enhance the mechanical and durability properties of cementitious materials; however, its frequent tendency to agglomerate limits its effectiveness and uniform distribution within the cement matrix. The main goal of this study was to improve NS dispersion and therefore to improve the properties of the concrete by coating NS onto standard sand particles (sand@NS) using the Stöber method, creating a composite material that acts as a filler, nucleation site, and highly reactive pozzolanic agent. The resulting sand@NS was incorporated into cement mixtures, and its compressive strength was measured after 3, 7, and 28 days of curing. In addition, water absorption and microstructural density were also evaluated. Comparative results showed that sand@NS significantly enhanced early-age hydration and initial strength, with a 145% increase in compressive strength at 28 days compared to the reference, whereas free NS resulted in a 120% increase. The early-age strength improvement was mainly due to the increased number of nucleation centers, while later strength gains were attributed to pozzolanic activity of the immobilized NS. Additionally, sand@NS reduced water absorption and increased microstructural density, even with reduced cement content, supporting more sustainable and eco-efficient concrete production. This work shows a promising, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to maximize the performance of NS in cementitious systems and supports its broader adoption in advanced construction materials.