Evaluación de nanofibras de celulosa como aditivo par el curado interno y durabilidad del hormigón.
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Date
2026
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Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La incorporación de nanofibras de celulosa recicladas provenientes de sacos de cemento surge como una alternativa para mejorar la hidratación interna del hormigón y contribuir a materiales más sostenibles. Estas fibras, con alta capacidad de retención y liberación gradual de agua, permiten sostener el proceso de hidratación del cemento más allá del curado inicial, favoreciendo una microestructura más estable y una matriz menos susceptible a la formación de poros conectados.
El estudio consideró mezclas elaboradas con diferentes proporciones entre fibras de tamaño grande (TG) y pequeño (TP), manteniendo constantes los materiales base y aplicando dosificaciones reducidas del aditivo. Las propiedades de los hormigones se evaluaron mediante ensayos de trabajabilidad, resistencia mecánica, grado de hidratación y absorción capilar, lo que permitió observar con claridad la influencia del aditivo desde edades tempranas hasta etapas avanzadas de curado.
Los resultados mostraron una disminución consistente de la trabajabilidad, asociada a la capacidad de las nanofibras para absorber parte del agua libre. En etapas tempranas, la resistencia mecánica se mantuvo cercana al patrón, mientras que en edades avanzadas se observaron mejoras atribuibles a una hidratación más prolongada. El análisis del grado de hidratación confirmó la presencia de un curado interno efectivo, especialmente en configuraciones equilibradas entre fibras grandes y pequeñas. Asimismo, la absorción capilar evidenció una red porosa más densa y menor permeabilidad en las probetas modificadas.
En conjunto, el uso de nanofibras recicladas demostró aportar beneficios significativos en términos de hidratación, estabilidad microestructural y durabilidad potencial del hormigón, destacándose como un aditivo con proyección para aplicaciones donde se requiera mejorar el desempeño interno del material sin incrementar su impacto ambiental.
The incorporation of recycled cellulose nanofibers obtained from post-consumer cement bags emerges as an alternative for enhancing internal hydration in concrete and contributing to more sustainable materials. These fibers, characterized by their high capacity to retain and gradually release water, help sustain the cement hydration process beyond the initial curing stage, promoting a more stable microstructure and a matrix less susceptible to the formation of connected pores. The study considered mixtures produced with different proportions of large (TG) and small (TP) fibers, keeping the base materials constant and applying reduced dosages of the additive. Concrete properties were evaluated through workability tests, mechanical strength, degree of hydration, and capillary absorption, allowing the influence of the additive to be clearly observed from early ages to advanced curing stages. The results showed a consistent decrease in workability, associated with the ability of the nanofibers to absorb part of the free water. At early stages, mechanical strength remained close to that of the control mix, while improvements were observed at later ages due to a more prolonged hydration process. The analysis of the degree of hydration confirmed the presence of an effective internal curing mechanism, particularly in balanced configurations between large and small fibers. Likewise, capillary absorption results indicated a denser pore network and lower permeability in the modified specimens. Overall, the use of recycled nanofibers demonstrated significant benefits in terms of hydration, microstructural stability, and potential durability of concrete, standing out as an additive with strong potential for applications requiring improved internal performance without increasing environmental impact.
The incorporation of recycled cellulose nanofibers obtained from post-consumer cement bags emerges as an alternative for enhancing internal hydration in concrete and contributing to more sustainable materials. These fibers, characterized by their high capacity to retain and gradually release water, help sustain the cement hydration process beyond the initial curing stage, promoting a more stable microstructure and a matrix less susceptible to the formation of connected pores. The study considered mixtures produced with different proportions of large (TG) and small (TP) fibers, keeping the base materials constant and applying reduced dosages of the additive. Concrete properties were evaluated through workability tests, mechanical strength, degree of hydration, and capillary absorption, allowing the influence of the additive to be clearly observed from early ages to advanced curing stages. The results showed a consistent decrease in workability, associated with the ability of the nanofibers to absorb part of the free water. At early stages, mechanical strength remained close to that of the control mix, while improvements were observed at later ages due to a more prolonged hydration process. The analysis of the degree of hydration confirmed the presence of an effective internal curing mechanism, particularly in balanced configurations between large and small fibers. Likewise, capillary absorption results indicated a denser pore network and lower permeability in the modified specimens. Overall, the use of recycled nanofibers demonstrated significant benefits in terms of hydration, microstructural stability, and potential durability of concrete, standing out as an additive with strong potential for applications requiring improved internal performance without increasing environmental impact.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a Civil.
Keywords
Nanofibras, Celulosa, Hormigón