Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Properties of Cement Paste

• Main Authors: Qiaoling Liu, Yujiao Peng, Long Liang, Xiaobin Dong, Hancai Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Nanomaterials
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/8318260

The effect of the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the properties of cement pastes is studied herein. The compressive strength of CNC/cement paste was investigated under the curing conditions defined in this study. Two-dimensional micrographs and pore size distributions were obtained by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and nitrogen adsorption. The addition of CNCs was found to significantly enhance the mechanical properties of cement pastes with a rapid decrease in temperature and humidity. XCT and nitrogen adsorption analyses show that the addition of CNCs leads to a refinement of the pore structure in the cement matrix. Almost no hydration products, including C-S-H, are formed in the cement matrix without CNCs under extreme conditions. This is in contrast with the results for the cement paste with 0.5% CNCs.