Title:
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using Cellulose Nanocrystals, Ordinary Portland Cement, and Limestone
Author(s):
Sivakumar Ramanathan, Krishna Siva Teja Chopperla, O. Burkan Isgor, and W. Jason Weiss
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
120
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
205-218
Keywords:
bulk resistivity; carbon footprint; cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs); greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; hydration; limestone (LS); pore refinement
DOI:
10.14359/51737293
Date:
1/1/2023
Abstract:
This study examines whether cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can be used in ordinary portland cement (OPC)-limestone (LS) systems to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. LS replacement levels between 0 and 30% were evaluated along with CNC dosage rates between 0 and 1% CNC solids per binder volume. Isothermal calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, ball-on-three-ball flexural strength, and electrical resistivity tests were used to quantify the performance of the mixtures. The results showed that the addition of CNCs to OPC-LS mixtures resulted in enhanced clinker hydration and up to a 38% increase in the 28-day bulk resistivity. It is demonstrated
that a mixture for which 22% of the OPC was replaced with
LS and containing 0.2% CNC had an equivalent performance in
terms of transport properties compared to the 100% OPC system. This could potentially reduce embodied carbon content by approximately 19.4% when compared to the pure OPC system.