Xanthan gum biopolymer for uniform dispersion of halloysite nanotubes to enhance micro- and macroscopic performance of cementitious composite: A sustainable alternative to chemical surfactants

To fully exploit the potential of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in cement-based composites, stable dispersion in cementitious environments is essential. While polycarboxylate ether (PCE) is commonly used for this purpose, xanthan gum (XG) biopolymer offers a greener alternative, providing stable and uniform dispersion. XG-modified HNTs show promise in enhancing the engineering properties of these composites, but their impact on micro- and macroscopic characteristics is still unclear. This study comprehensively assessed the influence of XG-modified HNTs on hydration-phase assemblage, pore structure, microstructural morphology, as well as compressive strength and transport properties in cementitious materials, and compared these results to PCE-modified HNTs in similar systems. The results demonstrated that XG-modified HNTs significantly outperformed PCE-modified HNTs by reducing calcium hydroxide (CH) content and refining CH crystal structures. Additionally, XG-modified HNTs accelerated cement hydration more effectively and promoted enhanced gel structure formation. Importantly, XG-modified HNTs contributed to a greater reduction in pore size and porosity, a more uniform pore distribution, and the formation of a more homogeneous cementitious matrix compared to PCE-modified HNTs. Furthermore, after 90 days, the HNT-XG mixture exhibited increases in compressive strength (14.3%), ultrasonic pulse velocity (7.1%), and electrical resistivity (13.3%) compared to the HNT-PCE mixture. Finally, the sustainability assessment revealed that using XG biopolymer results in 48.6% lower energy consumption, an 89.4% cleaner production process, and 16.3% lower production costs compared to PCE. Consequently, XG biopolymer can be considered a superior and sustainable alternative to chemical surfactants like PCE for the uniform dispersion of HNTs in cementitious systems. • A green approach for dispersing HNTs in cementitious systems by surface modification. • Green and chemical surfactants for dispersing HNTs in cement matrices were compared. • Xanthan gum is a sustainable alternative to chemical surfactants for HNT dispersion. • Utilizing XG-modified HNTs in cement mortar enhanced its engineered properties.