Properties of rice straw reinforced alkali activated cementitious composites

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2020-11, Vol.261, p.120536, Article 120536
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Chinh Van, Mangat, P.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkali activated cementitious composite (AACC); Alkali treatment; Drying shrinkage; Durability; Rice straw; Strength; Water absorption
• ISSN: 0950-0618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120536

•Characteristics of rice straw were studied by SEMs and XRDs.•Mechanical, physical properties, durability of the AAC composite were studied.•Alkali treatment enhances bond at rice straw and AAC paste interface.•Mechanisms of deterioration of the composites under wet/dry cycling was studied. The paper investigates the characteristics of rice straw reinforced alkali activated cementitious composites (AACC). The untreated and NaOH treated rice straw at the proportion of 1%, 2%, 3% by weight of binder was added to the mixes. Characteristics of rice straw have been studied by using SEM and XRD. Mechanical properties, water absorption, drying shrinkage and durability under wet/dry cycling have been investigated to evaluate the performance of the AACCs. SEM was also used to investigate the mechanism of deterioration of the AACC. The results show that rice straw has very significant positive effects on the performance of AACCs including increase in flexural and compressive strength, durability under wet/dry cycling, large reduction in drying shrinkage, and water absorption. In addition, alkali treatment is an effective method for enhancing bond between the rice straw and the matrix leading to improved performance of AACCs.