Cellulose nanofibrils on lightweight mortars for improvement of the performance of cement systems

Abstract

Cellulose nanomaterials produced by different methods have been studied in industrial and engineering applications. Nanocellulose can offer many advantages when incorporated into cement systems. In this study were analyzed mechanical and physical properties, microstructural analysis (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), acoustic performance, and nanoindentation of lightweight mortars with cellulose nanofibrils (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.%.). The presence of the nanocellulose reduced the mortar consistency index forming a “mushroom” shape, compacting the microstructure, and improved 52.36% the compressive strength. Nanocellulose stabilized the dimensional variation of lightweight mortars. Lightweight mortars with 0.3% nanocellulose presented the best acoustic insulation. AFM surfaces confirmed a microstructure with less roughness for 0.3% nanocellulose. For nanoindentation, an improvement of 16.4% was observed for 0.3% nanocellulose.

Keywords

• Lightweight mortar
• Nanocellulose
• Expanded polystyrene
• Microstructure, mechanical properties