Influence of potassium titanate whisker on the mechanical properties and microstructure of calcium aluminate cement for in situ combustion

This study investigated potassium titanate whisker-reinforced calcium aluminate cement (CAC)-based composites, and evaluated the influence of the quantity (0–5% of the weight of the binder) of potassium titanate whiskers on the mechanical properties of hardened cement mortar. X-ray diffraction analysis and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine the phase compositions and micro-morphology of the cement composites, respectively. Experimental results indicated that the addition of potassium titanate whisker exhibits significant potential to improve the tensile strength and toughness of cement mortars. The compressive and tensile strengths of samples cured at 50 °C were increased by 46.90 and 74.10%, and the tensile strength samples under high-temperature treatment increased by 113.67%, with the addition of 4% potassium titanate whisker. Typical cement slurry properties, such as basic rheology, free water, and fluid loss could maintain stability when added with 0–5% dosages of potassium titanate whiskers. SEM analysis indicated that the whisker could increase the toughness of oil cement, which contributed to whisker pullout and whisker-cement coalition pullout in the cement matrix.