Chitosan derived from shrimp shells functionalizes dendritic fibrous nanosilica to improve concrete’s early properties and durability

This study reutilizes microcrystalline chitosan extracted from shrimp shells, which is then modified with fibrous phosphosilicate (FPS) to synthesize FPS-CS. It is subsequently incorporated into cement based composites. This research sought to incorporate FPS-CS to improve the performance and durability of Portland cement, particularly enhancing its resistance to sulfates. Simultaneously, FPS-CS was added to cement mortar, and the aggregation behavior of FPS-CS, along with the hydration process and microstructural characteristics of the mortar, was analyzed. The study revealed that adding FPS-CS improved the toughness, physical properties, and durability of the cement samples. The addition of FPS-CS led to a decrease in both the factors associated with chloride ion migration and the volume of voids within the material. Furthermore, the ability of cement mortar to resist compression forces was improved with the presence of FPS-CS as opposed to control samples.