JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING, vol.48, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
The study investigates the performance of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as reinforcer in cementitious wood particle products. The wood cement boards were produced with various MCC amounts, up to 30 wt % based on wood particle weight. Physical, thermal and mechanical properties of MCC added wood cement boards were investigated and compared with conventional wood cement boards. The water absorption and shrinkage of cement panels decreased at low MCC additions, but increased at high rates of MCC. The highest values of the MOR and IB of the wood cement boards were observed at 5% and 10% MCC content, respectively. When used above this ratio, the MOR values were significantly reduced. The dispersion effect of MCC depending its ratio in cement matrix was observed with scanning electron microscope. Although the possibility of overlapping of wood component (lignin) and cement hydrate [Ca(OH)(2)] signals due to the high decomposition temperature of lignin challenged the determination of Ca(OH)(2) amount, one of the cement hydration products, TGA/DTG results demonstrated that as the MCC content in the wood cement boards increased, the decomposition amount of Ca(OH)(2) increased. This indicates that mcc improved the cement hydration, compared to spruce wood. In terms of DSC results, the addition of MCC to the wood cement boards lowered the temperature and increased the enthalpy and peak height.