Kampragkou, P.; Kamperidou, V.; Stefanidou, M. Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars. Fibers2024, 12, 21.
Kampragkou, P.; Kamperidou, V.; Stefanidou, M. Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars. Fibers 2024, 12, 21.
Kampragkou, P.; Kamperidou, V.; Stefanidou, M. Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars. Fibers2024, 12, 21.
Kampragkou, P.; Kamperidou, V.; Stefanidou, M. Evaluation of Hydrothermally Treated Wood Fibre Performance in Cement Mortars. Fibers 2024, 12, 21.
Abstract
The biofibres wide application as mortars enhancement have been so far restricted by factors related to their chemical composition and hygroscopic nature. Their hydrophilic behavior increases the water demand of mortar-mixtures and diminishes their adhesion to the matrix, while further moisture-related fibre degradation issues may arise. Additionally, the natural fibres seem to be susceptible to degradation caused during the exposure to alkaline environments conditions, such as those of cement mortars, restricting their utilization in construction industry. Therefore, the current study focusses on the potential of fibre modification through treatments that would permanently alter their structure and chemical composition in the whole mass or surface towards their performance improvement. In this study, mild hydrothermally treated wood fibres of black pine and beech species were prepared and incorporated in cement mortars to assess their performance, applying the proportion of 1.5% v/v in the mortar. The mortars workability (at fresh state), physical, hygroscopic, chemical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics at the age of 28, 90 and 365 days and weathering performance by subjecting them at different artificial ageing environments (freeze-thaw cycles or outdoor exposure) were examined. The results indicated the beneficial role of the treated fibres in the dimensional stability, flexural strength, thermal insulation properties and capillary absorption of the mortar specimens, especially during ageing process, with the black pine fibres to reveal the highest improvement. The hydrothermally treated wood fibres seem to ensure the integrity maintenance of cement mortars under all ageing conditions, proving that the specific bio-additives could provide low-cost and eco-friendly mortar enhancement pathways.
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