Cellulose Nanomaterials in Cementitious Composites

Cellulose nanomaterials, encompassing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), have emerged as renewable, high-performance additives in cementitious composites. Derived from abundant natural sources such as wood pulp, agricultural residues or industrial by-products, these nanomaterials exhibit outstanding mechanical stiffness, low density and large specific surface area. When properly dispersed, CNCs and CNFs interact with cement hydration products to refine the microstructure, enhance the degree of hydration and bridge microcracks, leading to improvements in flexural strength, fracture toughness and durability. Furthermore, their hydrophilic surfaces can be functionalised to tune rheological behaviour, enabling optimisation of workability and pumpability in fresh mixtures. Beyond mechanical reinforcement, the incorporation of cellulose nanomaterials contributes to reduced cement content, lower carbon footprint and valorisation of waste streams, aligning with global imperatives for sustainable construction. Challenges remain in achieving stable dispersion, scaling up production and ensuring compatibility with various cementitious matrices, but ongoing research is steadily addressing these barriers and translating laboratory findings into field-ready formulations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that the inclusion of CNFs in oil well cement formulations increases yield stress and water retention, promoting a higher degree of hydration and a denser microstructure. Optimised CNF loadings (around 0.04 wt%) yielded up to 20 % gains in flexural strength, although excessive addition led to fibre aggregation and strength loss. In another investigation, CNCs extracted from palm-waste fibres were blended into mortar at concentrations up to 0.8 % by weight. An optimal dosage of 0.4 % CNCs enhanced compressive strength by nearly 50 % and flexural strength by 20 %, while accelerating portlandite crystallisation and refining pore structure. Both works underscore the dual role of cellulose nanomaterials as mechanical reinforcements and hydration promoters in cement-based systems.

Cellulose Nanomaterials in Cementitious Composites publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cellulose nanomaterials in cementitious composites across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs): rod-like, highly crystalline nanoparticles obtained via controlled acid hydrolysis of cellulose, valued for their stiffness and aspect ratio.

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs): flexible, entangled networks of nanoscale cellulose fibres produced by mechanical or enzymatic fibrillation, noted for their surface area and network-forming ability.

Degree of hydration: the fraction of cement compounds that chemically react with water during curing, directly influencing strength development and microstructure.

Rheology: the science of deformation and flow of cementitious suspensions, governing workability, pumpability and resistance to segregation.

Dispersion: the uniform distribution of nanomaterials within a cement matrix, critical to preventing agglomeration and achieving consistent reinforcement.

References

1. Cellulose Nanofibers as a Modifier for Rheology, Curing and Mechanical Performance of Oil Well Cement. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals Extracted from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch as Green Admixture for Mortar. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. A Review on the Application of Nanocellulose in Cementitious Materials. Nanomaterials (2020).
4. Influence of cellulose nanofibrils on the rheology, microstructure and strength of alkali activated ground granulated blast-furnace slag: a comparison with ordinary Portland cement. Materials and Structures (2021).