Title:	Innovative mortars containing nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS): optimizing ultrasonication methods for higher eco-efficiency.
Authors:	SANTOS, R. F. RIBEIRO, J. C. L. CARVALHO, J. M. F. de MAGALHAES, W. L. E. PEDROTI, L. G. NALON, G. H. LIMA, G. E. S. de ARAÚJO, E. N. D. de AZEVEDO, A. R. G. de
Affiliation:	RODRIGO FELIPE SANTOS, UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE SANTA CRUZ; JOSÉ CARLOS LOPES RIBEIRO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; JOSÉ MARIA FRANCO DE CARVALHO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; WASHINGTON LUIZ ESTEVES MAGALHAES, CNPF; LEONARDO GONÇALVES PEDROTI, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; GUSTAVO HENRIQUE NALON, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; GUSTAVO EMILIO SOARES DE LIMA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; EDUARDO NERY DUARTE DE ARAÚJO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; AFONSO RANGEL GARCEZ DE AZEVEDO, UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DO NORTE FLUMINENSE.
Date Issued:	2025
Citation:	Journal of Materials Research and Technology, v. 36, p. 7261-7273, 2025.
Description:	Incorporating waste materials into cementitious composites is a promising practice for enhancing the sustainability of the construction industry. However, previous papers have not explored the combination of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS) for producing eco-efficient mortars, nor have they examined the optimization of NFC dispersion within these matrices. To narrow these research gaps, this paper presents an experimental program for the design of innovative mortars containing both NFC and BOFS, based on the optimization of ultrasonication procedures for improvement of eco-efficiency indicators. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the dispersion and stability of NFC solutions prepared with different sonication times (0.00, 0.04, 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 min/ml). Mortars containing BOFS and these different types of NFC solutions were subjected to tests for determination of workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, eco-efficiency indicators, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM analyses. Results indicated improved NFC dispersion and stability through sonication, leading to enhanced mechanical performance and eco-efficiency indicators. The most favorable results were observed in mortars with NFC sonication times of 0.04 and 0.16 min/ml, showcasing performance gains of 17.9 % and 13.4 % compared to the reference specimen, respectively. In conclusion, optimizing ultrasonication methods can be a highly effective strategy for enhancing the eco-efficiency performance of novel mortars containing BOFS and NFC.
Thesagro:	Celulose Cimento
NAL Thesaurus:	Eco-efficiency Nanomaterials Cellulose Cement
Keywords:	Nanofibrillated cellulose Celulose nanofibrilada Steel slag Escória de aço Ecoeficiência
ISSN:	2238-7854
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.04.319
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPF)