Impact of chitosan extracted from shrimp shells on the shrinkage and mechanical properties of cement-based composites using dendritic fibrous nanosilica

Dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) was functionalized using microcrystalline chitosan, derived from shrimp exoskeletons, to act as a robust anchor, resulting in DFNS@Chitosan. In order to prevent the restacking of chitosan sheets, the supramolecular polymerized chitosan not only served as a spacer but was also incorporated into cement-based composites. The physical-chemical characteristics of DFNS@Chitosan were assessed through various analytical techniques such as TEM, SEM, TGA, FTIR, AFM, XPS, and EDX. The potency and auto-induced contraction of Cement-based composite materials fortified with DFNS@Chitosan were probed. The incorporation of DFNS@Chitosan resulted in an increase in both compressive and interfacial stretching potency of the cement-based composites. Furthermore, the presence of DFNS@Chitosan effectively inhibited the occurrence of auto-induced contraction in the cement-based paste. This research endeavor is anticipated to promote an alternative utilization of DFNS and shrimp waste shells in the development of sustainable building materials.