Environmentally friendly viscosity-modifying agent for self-compacting mortar: Cladophora sp. cellulose nanofibres

Abstract

Admixtures such as viscosity modifying agents and mineral admixtures could be used to regulate the rheological behaviour of the self-compacting concrete mixture. Herein, cellulose nanofibres obtained from Cladophora sp., a bio-waste that pollutes water bodies and threatens the ecosystem, were used to provide appropriate plastic viscosity in self-compacting mortars instead of a traditional viscosity modifying agent known as Welan gum (WG). Within the scope of the study, mini-slump, mini-V funnel, viscosity tests, compressive-flexural strength tests and FE-SEM analyses were performed on the mortar and cement paste specimens prepared. According to the rheological results, increases of up to 93% in plastic viscosity and increases of up to 10 times in yield stress were observed in the CCF-used specimens. On the other hand, increases in yield stress up to seven times and in plastic viscosity up to 37% were determined in the specimens with WG added. Moreover, as a result of mechanical tests, increases of up to 15% in compressive strength and up to 7% increases in flexural strength were observed in the WG-added specimens. While the decreases of up to 4% in compressive strength were observed, increases of up to 12% in flexural strength were detected in the CCF-added specimens.

Keywords:

• Algae
• Cladophora sp.
• eutrophication
• viscosity modifying agent
• self-compacting mortar

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under grant number 220M129.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu.