Search Results (11)

This study investigates accelerated carbonation as a low-energy alternative to autoclave curing in the production of fiber cement composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers. The effects of both curing routes on physical–mechanical performance, durability, and microstructural evolution were systematically evaluated before and after 25 wetting–drying cycles. Carbonation-cured composites achieved mechanical performance comparable to autoclaved materials, while exhibiting higher bulk density (≈1.37–1.38 g/cm³) and a reduction of approximately 15% in total void volume. Water absorption values were up to 17% lower than those of autoclaved counterparts. After accelerated aging, both systems showed stable mechanical properties, with increases in modulus of elasticity of approximately 21% (autoclaved) and 26% (carbonated), indicating ongoing hydration and densification processes. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed carbonation degrees of approximately 16–17%, corresponding to CO₂ uptake values of up to 35.8 kg/m³ of fiber cement. X-ray diffraction confirmed the consumption of portlandite and the formation of calcium carbonate phases, contributing to pore refinement and matrix densification. Microstructural observations indicated improved fiber–matrix interaction in carbonated composites due to the precipitation of carbonation products at the interface, whereas autoclaved materials exhibited signs of fiber degradation associated with hydrothermal curing. These effects were reflected in higher deformation capacity and specific energy retention in carbonated systems. Overall, accelerated carbonation represents a promising alternative to autoclave curing, delivering comparable mechanical performance while enhancing fiber durability, refining pore structure, and enabling CO₂ sequestration within the cementitious matrix. Full article

The combined effects of accelerated carbonation and lime sludge incorporation on the mechanical and durability performance of fiber-cement composites were assessed in this study. Lime sludge was used to replace 0%, 10%, and 20% of the cement in the composites, which were then autoclave-cured and carbonated more quickly for two or eight hours. With LS20-C8 (20% lime sludge, 8 h carbonation) achieving the highest carbonation efficiency (74.0%), X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified the gradual conversion of portlandite into well-crystallized calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). In terms of mechanical performance, LS20-C8 outperformed the control by increasing toughness by 16.7%, flexural strength by 14.2%, compressive strength by 14.6%, and compressive modulus by 20.3%. The properties of LS20-C8 were better preserved after aging under wetting-drying cycles, as evidenced by lower losses of toughness (10.0%) and compressive strength (10.1%) compared to the control (14.6% and 18.3%, respectively). The mechanical improvements were explained by optical microscopy, which showed decreased porosity and an enhanced fiber–matrix interface. Overall, the findings show that adding lime sludge to accelerated carbonation improves durability, toughness, strength, and stiffness while decreasing porosity. This method helps to value industrial byproducts and is a sustainable and efficient way to create long-lasting fiber-cement composites. Full article

Fiber–cement composites have been increasingly studied for sustainable construction applications, but durability issues—particularly fiber degradation in alkaline environments—remain a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of furfurylated sisal fibers and nanoclay additions on the physical and mechanical performance of autoclaved fiber–cement composites, seeking to enhance fiber durability and matrix compatibility. All the composites were formulated with CPV-ARI cement and partially replaced with agricultural limestone to reduce the environmental impact and production costs. Sisal fibers (2 wt.%) were chemically modified using furfuryl alcohol, and nanoclays—both hydrophilic and surface-functionalized—were incorporated at 1% and 5% of cement weight. The composites were characterized for physical properties (density, water absorption, and apparent porosity) and mechanical performance (flexural and compressive strength, toughness, and modulus). Furfurylation significantly improved fiber–matrix interaction, leading to higher flexural strength and up to 100% gain in toughness. Nanoclay additions reduced porosity and increased stiffness, particularly at 5%, though excessive content showed diminishing returns. The combination of furfurylated fibers and functionalized nanoclay provided the best results in maintaining a compact microstructure, reducing water absorption, and improving mechanical resilience. Optical microscopy confirmed improved fiber dispersion and interfacial bonding in composites containing furfurylated fibers and functionalized nanoclay. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating surface-treated natural fibers with pozzolanic additives to enhance the performance and longevity of fiber–cement composites. Full article

An urgent and promising direction in the development of building materials science is the improvement of the quality of non-autoclaved aerated concrete. In view of the obvious disadvantages of non-autoclaved aerated concrete compared to the autoclaved equivalent in terms of technology, it can be significantly improved because of a rationally selected composition and other factors of a recipe-technological nature. The goal of the study was to search for complex compositions and technological solutions aimed at identifying rational combinations of recipe-technological factors as simultaneous modifications of aerated concrete with various additives and dispersed the reinforcement of it with various environmentally friendly and cost-effective types of plant fibers. Fly ash (FA), instead of part of the cement, proved to be more effective than the GGBS additive. The compressive strength (CS), bending strength (BS), and coefficient of construction quality (CCQ) were higher by 4.5%, 3.8%, and 1.7%, respectively, while the density and thermal conductivity (TC) were lower by 0.7% and 3.6%, respectively, compared with aerated concrete modified with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). The additional reinforcement of modified aerated concrete with coconut fiber (CF) and sisal fiber (SF) in an amount of 0.6% of the total mass of cement and modifier increases the CS to 15%, BS to 22% and CCQ to 16%. The SF was more effective than the CF. Aerated concrete modified with FA and reinforced with SF showed the highest efficiency. Compared to the control composition without modifiers or fibers, the increase in the CS was up to 40%, BS up to 47%, and CCQ up to 43%, while the decrease in density was up to 2.6%, and TC up to 15%. Full article

In case of a fire, the flame can spread from the building through the outer openings to the outside. In such cases, the fire temperature thermal effect determines the façade fibrocement tile thermal destruction, while the flammable thermo-insulating systems used for building energy effectiveness ensures it sets on fire. The spread of such a fire becomes uncontrollable and raises an immediate danger to the people inside the building, while such event dynamics delay and make it harder to put out the fire. Extra additive usage in façade fibrocement tiles can raise its resistance to fire temperature effect. Carbon fiber is widely known as a material resistant to the high temperature destructive effect. An investigation was conducted on the influence that carbon fiber has on the properties of autoclaved fiber cement samples. The autoclaved fiber cement samples were made from the raw materials, typical for façade fiber cement plates, produced in an industrial way (using the same proportions). In the samples, carbon fiber was used instead of mix cellulose fiber in 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% proportions. After completing the density research, it was determined that the carbon fiber effect had no general effect on the sample density. Ultrasound speed spreading research showed that the carbon fiber insignificantly makes sample structure denser; however, after the fire temperature effect, sample structure is less dense when using carbon fiber. The results of both these investigations could be within the margin of error. Insignificant sample structure density rise was confirmed with water absorption research, which during the 1% carbon fiber usage case was lower by 4.3%. It was found that up to 1% carbon fiber usage instead of mix cellulose fiber creates a dense structure of autoclaved fiber cement samples, and the carbon fiber in the microstructure influences the mechanical properties of the autoclaved fiber cement samples. After using carbon fiber in ambient temperature, the sample compressive strength and bending strength increased. However, the results of mechanical properties were completely different after experiencing fire temperature effect. Scanning electron microscopy research showed that the bond between the carbon fiber and the cement matrix was not resistant to high temperature effect, due to which the structure of the samples with carbon fiber weakened. Research showed that carbon fiber lowers the mechanical properties of the autoclaved fiber cement samples after high temperature effect. After analyzing the density, ultrasound speed spreading, water absorption, microstructure and macrostructure, compressive strength, and bending strength, the authors determined the main CF usage for AFK dependencies: 1. CF usage up to 1% replacing MCF makes the AFK structure more dense up to 1.5%, and lowers the water absorption up to 4.3%; 2. CF incorporates itself densely into the AFC microstructure; 3. CF usage up to replacing MCF improves the AFK strength properties up to until the fire temperature effect. Compression strength increases up 7.3% while bending strength increases up to 14.9%. 4. AFK hydrate amount on CF surface is lower than on MCF; 5. Fire temperature effect on AFK with CF causes dehydration by removing water vapor from the microstructure, resulting in a lot of microcracks due to stress; 6. The CF and cement matrix contact zone is not resistant to fire temperature effect. SEM experiments were used to determine the CF “self-removing” effect; 7. Due to complex changes happening in the AFK during fire temperature effect, CF usage does not improve strength properties in the microstructure. Compression strength decreases to 66.7% while bending strength decreases to 20% when compared with E samples. Full article

The direction of construction science that is associated with the development of the theory and practice of creating a new generation of foam concrete is particularly interesting and relevant. The development of improved structural foam concrete using polypropylene fiber and industrial waste, namely fly ash (FA), is prompted by the existing environmental threat posed by FA; this threat is a result of the operation of the fuel energy industry, as well as the possibility of using foam concrete not only as thermal insulation, but as the main material for load-bearing structures that have a certain level of responsibility. The aim of this work was to create and optimize the recipe technological parameters to produce non-autoclaved fiber foam concrete (FFC) using FA as a component. The study used standardized methods for assessing the properties of FFC, and the method of optical microscopy to analyze the structural characteristics of the material. It has been revealed that the replacement of cement with FA in an amount of 10% to 40% helps to reduce the dry density (DD) of FFC. The lowest DD was recorded for samples with 40% FA. The best results for the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) were recorded for FFC samples with 10% FA instead of cement. The increase in CS was 12%, and the increase in FS was 23%. The best thermal insulation properties of FFC, and in terms of resistance to freezing and thawing, were recorded in samples with a 10% replacement of cement with FA. The maximum decrease in thermal conductivity was 14%. Full article

This paper presents the use of hydrophobic silica aerogel (HSA) and hydrophilic fly ash cenosphere (FCS) aggregates for improvements in the thermal insulating and mechanical properties of 100- and 250 °C-autoclaved calcium aluminate phosphate (CaP) cement composites reinforced with micro-glass (MGF) and micro-carbon (MCF) fibers for deployment in medium- (100 °C) and high-temperature (250 °C) reservoir thermal energy storage systems. The following six factors were assessed: (1) Hydrothermal stability of HSA; (2) Pozzolanic activity of the two aggregates and MGF in an alkali cement environment; (3) CaP cement slurry heat release during hydration and chemical reactions; (4) Composite phase compositions and phase transitions; (5) Mechanical behavior; (6) Thermal shock (TS) resistance at temperature gradients of 150 and 225 °C. The results showed that hydrophobic trimethylsilyl groups in trimethylsiloxy-linked silica aerogel structure were susceptible to hydrothermal degradation at 250 °C. This degradation was followed by pozzolanic reactions (PR) of HSA, its dissolution, and the formation of a porous microstructure that caused a major loss in the compressive strength of the composites at 250 °C. The pozzolanic activities of FCS and MGF were moderate, and they offered improved interfacial bonding at cement-FCS and cement-MGF joints through a bridging effect by PR products. Despite the PR of MGF, both MGF and MCF played an essential role in minimizing the considerable losses in compressive strength, particularly in toughness, engendered by incorporating weak HSA. As a result, a FCS/HSA ratio of 90/10 in the CaP composite system was identified as the most effective hybrid insulating aggregate composition, with a persistent compressive strength of more than 7 MPa after three TS tests at a 150 °C temperature gradient. This composite displayed thermal conductivity of 0.28 and 0.35 W/mK after TS with 225 and 150 °C thermal gradients, respectively. These values, below the TC of water (TC water = 0.6 W/mK), were measured under water-saturated conditions for applications in underground reservoirs. However, considering the hydrothermal disintegration of HSA at 250 °C, these CaP composites have potential applications for use in thermally insulating, thermal shock-resistant well cement in a mid-temperature range (100 to 175 °C) reservoir thermal energy storage system. Full article

The influences of curing pressure on the physical and mechanical property development of oil well cement during long-term curing were studied. Five silica-enriched cement slurries designed without and with reinforcement materials (latex fiber and nano-graphene) were autoclaved at 200 °C under two different pressures. The low pressure (50 MPa) curing was conducted for 2, 60, 90 and 180 days; the high pressure (150 MPa) curing was conducted for 2 and 360 days. The physical and mechanical properties of set cement were characterized by compressive strength, Young’s modulus, and water/gas permeability; the mineral composition and microstructure were determined by X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscope. Test results showed that high pressure (150 MPa) curing led to a more compact microstructure, which reduced the rate of strength retrogression in the long term. Samples with reinforcement materials, especially the latex fiber, showed higher compressive strength, Young’s modulus and lower permeability during long-term curing at both pressures. Full article

An investigation was conducted on the influence that industrial metakaolin waste (IMW) has on the properties of autoclaved fiber cement composition (FCC) samples. FCC samples were made from fiber cement plate’s typical components using the same proportions. In samples, IMW was used instead of cement in 10%, 20%, 30% proportions and in 50%, 100% proportions instead of ground quartz. Differential thermal analysis (DTG), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV), density, porosity and optical microscope (OM) research methods were used to identify the micro and macrostructure of samples. Mechanical properties were evaluated using flexural and compressive strength research methods. It was established that IMW was used instead of cement in fiber cement composition samples up to 10% and in fiber cement composition samples instead of ground quartz forms density microstructure structure because of Al-rich tobermorite. As a result, the flexural and compressive strength increased. Samples with higher content of IMW instead of cement had unreacted IMW and a less dense microstructure. In this case, flexural and compressive strength decreased. All FCC samples were fired in a standard fire curve (ISO 842) for 30 min. Samples of mechanical properties were established by doing flexural and compressive strength tests, and which results showed the same trends. Full article

Non-structural masonry partition walls, which are mainly designed to functionally separate spaces in the buildings and provide physical barriers between rooms, were traditionally built from either solid or hollow clay units or autoclaved aerated concrete blocks. Recent earthquakes have revealed the high vulnerability of these elements, even in the case of low to moderate seismic events. Public buildings (e.g., hospitals and schools) are particularly vulnerable. Due to their greater floor-to-floor heights and the response spectra of floors, the dynamic response of primary structure may provoke significantly higher seismic loads on partition walls. The main goal of the presented experimental study was to investigate the behavior of slender partition walls loaded out-of-plane with a simple and cost-effective approach that may be applied through routine refurbishment works. Eleven full-scale slender non-structural masonry partition walls were built with brickwork and cement–lime mortar. Eight of them were additionally strengthened with different techniques, including glass fiber-reinforcing fabric and low-cost glass fiber-rendering mesh. To evaluate the efficiency of the applied strengthening solutions, out-of-plane quasi-static cyclic experiments were conducted. By applying meshes over the entire surfaces, the resistance was significantly improved with the low-cost approach reaching half of the resistance of the commercially available strengthening system preserving the same displacement capacity. Full article

The addition of natural fibers used as reinforcement has great appeal in the construction materials industry since natural fibers are cheaper, biodegradable, and easily available. In this work, we analyzed the feasibility of using the fibers of piassava, tucum palm, razor grass, and jute from the Amazon rainforest as reinforcement in mortars, exploiting the mechanical properties of compressive and flexural strength of samples with 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5% mass addition of the composite binder (50% Portland cement + 40% metakaolin + 10% fly ash). The mortars were reinforced with untreated (natural) and treated (hot water treatment, hornification, 8% NaOH solution, and hybridization) fibers, submitted to two types of curing (submerged in water, and inflated with CO₂ in a pressurized autoclave) for 28 days. Mortars without fibers were used as a reference. For the durability study, the samples were submitted to 20 drying/wetting cycles. The fibers improved the flexural strength of the mortars and prevented the abrupt rupture of the samples, in contrast to the fragile behavior of the reference samples. The autoclave cure increased the compressive strength of the piassava and tucum palm samples with 4.5% of fibers. Full article