Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars
Biofibres’ wide application in mortar enhancement has thus far been restricted by factors related to their chemical composition and hygroscopic nature. Their hydrophilic behaviour increases the water demand of mortar mixtures and diminishes their affinity to the matrix, while further moisture-relate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Fibers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/3/21 |
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| author | Petrini Kampragkou Vasiliki Kamperidou Maria Stefanidou |
| author_facet | Petrini Kampragkou Vasiliki Kamperidou Maria Stefanidou |
| author_sort | Petrini Kampragkou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biofibres’ wide application in mortar enhancement has thus far been restricted by factors related to their chemical composition and hygroscopic nature. Their hydrophilic behaviour increases the water demand of mortar mixtures and diminishes their affinity to the matrix, while further moisture-related fibre degradation issues may arise. Additionally, natural fibres seem to be susceptible to degradation caused by exposure to alkaline environmental conditions such as those experienced by cement mortars, restricting their utilisation in the construction industry. Therefore, the current study investigates the potential of fibre modification through treatments that would permanently alter their structure and chemical composition to improve their performance. In this study, wood fibres of black pine and beech species were exposed to mild thermal treatment (140 °C 2 h, under a steam atmosphere), characterised in terms of the physical and chemical properties and incorporated in cement mortars, applying the proportion of 1.5% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> in the mortar, in order to assess their performance as reinforcement material. The mortars’ workability (at a fresh state) was examined, as well as other physical, hygroscopic, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of the mortars at the ages of 28, 90 and 365 days and weathering performance, by subjecting them to different artificial ageing environments (freeze–thaw cycles or outdoor exposure). The results revealed the beneficial role of the treated fibres in dimensional stability, flexural strength, thermal insulation properties and capillary absorption of the mortar specimens, especially during the ageing process, with the black pine fibres showing the greatest improvement. The hydrothermally treated wood fibres seem to help maintain the integrity of cement mortars under all ageing conditions, proving that they could provide low-cost and eco-friendly mortar enhancement pathways. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:18:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed947c8aad2444c4be13b11405990f5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:18:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed947c8aad2444c4be13b11405990f5a2024-03-27T13:38:03ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392024-02-011232110.3390/fib12030021Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement MortarsPetrini Kampragkou0Vasiliki Kamperidou1Maria Stefanidou2Laboratory of Building Materials, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Harvesting and Technology of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Building Materials, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceBiofibres’ wide application in mortar enhancement has thus far been restricted by factors related to their chemical composition and hygroscopic nature. Their hydrophilic behaviour increases the water demand of mortar mixtures and diminishes their affinity to the matrix, while further moisture-related fibre degradation issues may arise. Additionally, natural fibres seem to be susceptible to degradation caused by exposure to alkaline environmental conditions such as those experienced by cement mortars, restricting their utilisation in the construction industry. Therefore, the current study investigates the potential of fibre modification through treatments that would permanently alter their structure and chemical composition to improve their performance. In this study, wood fibres of black pine and beech species were exposed to mild thermal treatment (140 °C 2 h, under a steam atmosphere), characterised in terms of the physical and chemical properties and incorporated in cement mortars, applying the proportion of 1.5% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> in the mortar, in order to assess their performance as reinforcement material. The mortars’ workability (at a fresh state) was examined, as well as other physical, hygroscopic, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of the mortars at the ages of 28, 90 and 365 days and weathering performance, by subjecting them to different artificial ageing environments (freeze–thaw cycles or outdoor exposure). The results revealed the beneficial role of the treated fibres in dimensional stability, flexural strength, thermal insulation properties and capillary absorption of the mortar specimens, especially during the ageing process, with the black pine fibres showing the greatest improvement. The hydrothermally treated wood fibres seem to help maintain the integrity of cement mortars under all ageing conditions, proving that they could provide low-cost and eco-friendly mortar enhancement pathways.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/3/21bio-fibrecementcompositeslignocellulosemortarnatural fibre |
| spellingShingle | Petrini Kampragkou Vasiliki Kamperidou Maria Stefanidou Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars Fibers bio-fibre cement composites lignocellulose mortar natural fibre |
| title | Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars |
| title_full | Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars |
| title_short | Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars |
| title_sort | evaluation of hydrothermally treated wood fibre performance in cement mortars |
| topic | bio-fibre cement composites lignocellulose mortar natural fibre |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/3/21 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petrinikampragkou evaluationofhydrothermallytreatedwoodfibreperformanceincementmortars AT vasilikikamperidou evaluationofhydrothermallytreatedwoodfibreperformanceincementmortars AT mariastefanidou evaluationofhydrothermallytreatedwoodfibreperformanceincementmortars |