ACI Spring Convention 2016

Milwaukee, WI, April 18, 2016

Cellulose Nanopulps and Natural

Nanofibers in Cement-Based
Composites: Effects on
Autogenous and Drying Shrinkage
Liberato Ferrara, Marco della Torre, Visar Krelani
– Politecnico di Milano
Saulo Rocha Ferreira, Romildo Dias Toledo Filho –
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Flavio De Andrade Silva, PUC Rio de Janeiro
Natural fibers in cementitious composites

The UE-FP7 project ENCORE

ENvironmentally-friendly solution for

COncrete with
REcyled and natural components

Use of natural fibers in HPFRCCs: collaboration between PoliMi and

UFRJ
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
sisal
Natural fibers in cementitious composites

curaua coir

piassava jute
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
From natural fibers to micro- and nano-
cellulose
From natural fibers to micro- and nano-
cellulose
From natural fibers to micro- and nano-
cellulose

 NANOPULP
 single fibrils
 l = 5 ÷ 30 μm
 d = 20 ÷ 50 nm
 ρ = 1,4 kg/dm3

15 g nanofibers per liter

of suspension
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
 SISAL
 100 ÷ 200 celle
 l = 18 mm
 d = 6 ÷ 30 μm
 ρ = 1,1 kg/dm3

 EUCALYPTUS
 single lumen fibre
 l = 0,8 mm
 d = 12 μm
 ρ = 1,0 kg/dm3

 NANOPULP
 single fibrils
 l = 5 ÷ 30 μm
 d = 20 ÷ 50 nm
 ρ = 1,4 kg/dm3
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …

Constituent Dosage (g/dm3)

Mix type REF* Nanopulp Eucalyptus Sisal Steel
Cement type I 52.5 600 600 600 600 600
Slag 500 500 500 500 500
Sand 0-2 mm 983 983 983 983 983
Water 200 187 200 200 200
Superplasticizer 33 33 33 33 33
Nanopulp - 14 - - -
Eucalyptus - - 21.4 - -
Sisal - - - 14 -
Steel - - - - 100
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …

40 x 40 x 160 mm specimens
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …
Autogeneous shrinkage
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …
Total drying shrinkage
Natural fibers in cementitious composites
… as «internal curing» agents? …

Ref. Steel Sisal Sisal Eucalypt Nano

non sat. sat. us pulp
Compressive
strength 101.1 123.7 99.8 99.6 88.1 91.7
(non-sealed)
Compressive
strength 116 142.4 109.8 115.3 101.1 117.9
(sealed)
MOR 9.1 22.7 14.7 13.2 14.1 14.2
(non sealed)
MOR 9.5 22.3 14.1 12.2 14.4 13.7
(sealed)
On going work: use of nanocellulore and
natural fibers in cementitious composites
as promoters of self healing

Healed crack stronger than

«virgin» material!!!!
Concluding remarks and on going work …

Cellulose nanopulps and natural fibers can work as internal curing

agents in HPFRCCs

porous hierarchical network distributing water inside the

matrix … but … also facilitating exchange of water with the
outside environment

«restrained shrinkage cracking potential» is anyway

expected to be reduced because of better tensile strength

Cellulose nanopulps and natural fibers can also effectively work as

«promoters» of self healing in HPFRCCs.
Thank you for your attention!