Development of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash Blended Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes and Polypropylene Fibers

Abstract

Cement-based composites, as primary construction materials, have undergone significant advancements over the years, yet researchers still face challenges in terms of their durability and impact on the environment. The goal of this research is to develop environmentally friendly cementitious composites blended with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and reinforce them with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polypropylene (PP) fibers. Because of the high cost associated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and PP fibers, as well as CO2 emission, which affect the economic and environmental aspects of this field, an agricultural waste such as SCBA was introduced in the current study that is both economically and environmentally viable. For this purpose, five mixes were designed by varying the CNTs content whilst keeping the PP fibers and SCBA contents constant at 1.5% and 15% by weight of the binder (ordinary Portland cement + SCBA), respectively. The developed blends were tested for various mechanical and durability properties, i.e., compressive strength, flexural strength, impact strength, water absorption, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Moreover, the microstructures of the newly developed low-carbon SCBA-based composites reinforced with PP fibers and CNTs were studied through scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results showed that the developed blends incorporating 15% SCBA, 1.5% PP fibers, and 0.08% CNTs, by weight of the binder, demonstrated the compressive, flexural, and impact strengths as 15.30 MPa, 0.98 MPa, and 0.11 MPa, respectively. The investigated blends proved to be cost-effective and environmentally beneficial, rendering them suitable for utilization in general construction and maintenance works.