Dendritic fibrous nanosilica activated bovine excrement fiber to enhance the initial characteristics and durability of concrete

Abstract

The global agricultural sector has persistently grappled with the effective handling of bovine waste. This research repurposes bovine waste into a cost-effective and sustainable fiber, which is subsequently treated with dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) to produce CDF/DFNS. This is then integrated into cement-based composites. This study aimed to introduce CDF/DFNS to enhance the operational efficiency and longevity of Portland cement with notable sulfate resistance. Concurrently, CDF/DFNS was incorporated into cement mortar, and an examination of the aggregation of CDF/DFNS, along with the aquation procedure and microstructure of the mortar, was conducted. The investigation indicated that incorporating CDF/DFNS enhanced the toughness, tangible attributes, and imperishability of the cement specimens. The integration of CDF/DFNS resulted in a reduction in both the parameters related to the movement of chloride ions and the volume of voids in a material. Furthermore, the ability of cement mortar to resist compression forces was improved with the presence of CDF/DFNS as opposed to control samples. These improvements in strength and imperishability suggested that CDF/DFNS holds significant potential in reducing CO₂ emissions in the concrete industry.