Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Properties of Cement Paste

The effect of the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the properties of cement pastes is studied herein. The compressive strength of CNC/cement paste was investigated under the curing conditions defined in this study. Two-dimensional micrographs and pore size distributions were obtained by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and nitrogen adsorption. The addition of CNCs was found to significantly enhance the mechanical properties of cement pastes with a rapid decrease in temperature and humidity. XCT and nitrogen adsorption analyses show that the addition of CNCs leads to a refinement of the pore structure in the cement matrix. Almost no hydration products, including C-S-H, are formed in the cement matrix without CNCs under extreme conditions. This is in contrast with the results for the cement paste with 0.5% CNCs.