Harnessing Waste Cellulose Fibers for Developing Highly Resilient and Durable Cementitious Composites

The construction industry continually seeks innovative materials to improve the performance and durability of cementitious composites. Waste cellulose fibers (WCF) derived from agricultural residues present an advanced underutilized source for reinforcing cementitious materials. These fibers exhibit exceptional properties, including high tensile strength and a remarkable water retention capacity (~10x their weight). Our research on WCF derived from wheat straw demonstrates their ability to mitigate autogenous shrinkage by up to 75% during early hydration and significantly improve mechanical properties at early ages. However, the long-term performance of WCF in cementitious matrices is affected by the harsh alkaline environment, which can cause hydrolysis and fiber disintegration. To overcome this challenge, an optimized carbonation curing process was developed, where WCF-reinforced cementitious mixtures are exposed to controlled conditions. This process enhances the formation of calcium carbonate preferentially at the fiber-matrix interface, improving fiber durability, adhesion, and reinforcing efficiency. The findings highlight the potential of WCF to develop highly resilient and durable cementitious composites, offering substantial performance improvements over conventional materials.