Authors:

Mahira Mim

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About Paper:

The construction industry makes a significant contribution to global carbon emissions, creating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives to cement. This research develops an innovative carbon-negative Cellulose Cement Composite (C3) that incorporates surface-modified cellulose nanomaterials to improve strength, durability, and water resistance while capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The cellulose-cement interface is optimized through modifications with 3- aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and tannic acid (TA) to improve interfacial strength, water absorption and degradation of the cement matrices. Initial experiments successfully demonstrated the modification of CNMs (cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibrils) with APTES/TEOS/TA, supported by zeta potential analysis. Current investigations are focused on characterizing these composites using isothermal calorimetry to evaluate interactions in CNM-cement and CNM-cement-excelsior systems. Preliminary findings confirm that such modifications enhance water resistance while maintaining mechanical properties, though scaling these effects to bulk composites remains challenging. This project addresses critical gaps in scalability and long- term performance. The development of C3 aims to provide sustainable construction material that combines structural performance with carbon sequestration potential. Future work will focus on optimizing formulations for biodegradation and mechanical performance. This work contributes to global efforts in creating environmentally responsible building materials that actively address climate change while meeting the structural demands of modern construction. Keywords: Sustainable Construction Material; Carbon-Negative; Cellulose Cement Composite (C3); Surface Modification

Source:

Purdue University / 2025

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No topics listed

Co-authors:

Mahira Mim