A novel approach of developing micro crystalline cellulose reinforced cementitious composites with enhanced microstructure and mechanical performance

Abstract

This paper reports a novel approach of preparing aqueous suspensions of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for fabrication of cementitious composites. MCC was dispersed homogeneously in water using Pluronic F-127 as a surfactant with the help of ultrasonication process and the aqueous suspensions were added to cement/sand mixture to prepare cementitious composites. A commonly used stabilizing agent for MCC, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) was also used for the comparison purpose. The prepared suspensions were characterized through visual inspection, UV-Vis spectroscopy and optical microscopy. The developed composites were characterized for their bulk density, flexural and compressive properties as well as microstructure. The influence of Pluronic and CMC concentration, superplasticizer, dispersion technique and dispersion temperature on mortar's mechanical performance was thoroughly studied to find out the optimum conditions. Overall, Pluronic (with Pluronic: MCC ratio of 1:5) led to better MCC dispersion as well as dispersion stability as compared to CMC. The best mechanical performance was achieved with Pluronic in combination with superplasticizer using ultrasonication process, resulting in improvement of 106%, 31% and 66% in flexural modulus, flexural strength and compressive strengths, respectively (highest values reported till date). The bulk density and hydration of cementitious composites also improved significantly with the addition of MCC.

Effects of Ball Milling Processes on the Microstructure and Rheological Properties of Microcrystalline Cellulose as a Sustainable Polymer Additive

“…Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a purified, partially depolymerized crystalline cellulose, and generally can be extracted from variety of cellulosic sources by acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, mechanical disintegration, oxidation technique, ionic liquid treatment, or combination of two or more of these methods [ 1 , 2 ]. Because of the mechanical strength of MCC, as well as it being chemically inactive, physiologically inert with attractive binding properties, low toxicity, renewability and biodegradability, MCC offered a significant opportunity for multiple uses in diverse fields, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry as a tablet excipient [ 3 , 4 ], in the food industry as a thickener and fat substitute [ 2 ], and also, as an additive in paper and composites applications [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Co-Processed Excipients for Dispersible Tablets—Part 2: Patient Acceptability

“…It is likely that the particles present in CombiLac and MicroceLac were also MCC fibres, since lactose is soluble in water; CombiLac micrographs also revealed small rounded particles attributable to starch [21]. Agglomeration of MCC particles was more pronounced in Avicel products than in other excipients, which can be explained by the greater concentration of MCC in the former [22]. Ludiflash, Pharmaburst and SmartEx QD100 are largely composed of the watersoluble mannitol; thus, the particles shown in the optical micrographs can be ascribed to insoluble materials, such as polyvinyl acetate in Ludiflash, silicon dioxide in Pharmaburst and swollen hydroxypropyl cellulose and/or polyvinyl alcohol in SmartEx QD100.…”

“…The particle size of MCC in F-Melt products is controlled by the spray-drying process and was smaller than that of Avicel PH-102, which explains why F-Melt products were more palatable. In addition, MCC is less likely to agglomerate in F-Melt products, since it is incorporated with water-soluble excipients in spherical spray-dried particles and is present at lower concentration than in Avicel products [22].…”

Micro- and Nanocellulose in Polymer Composite Materials: A Review

“…When microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as a filler to nylon 6, the filler loading improved the flexural modulus from 2.6 GPa with neat nylon 6 to 3.8 GPa with 20% of MCC loading [ 129 ]. MCC was also used as reinforcement material to cementitious composites and revealed 106% enhancement in the flexural modulus as a result of adding MCC [ 130 ]. The addition of epoxidized citric acid to polylactide/MCC showed the highest result of flexural modulus (4.7 MPa) at 3% of MCC, which was 3.3 MPa before adding MCC [ 131 ].…”