Mechanical characterization of different biochar-based cement composites

The attention on the use of raw materials, the energy consumption as well as carbon dioxide production of cement factories are boosting the experimentation on innovative and sustainable materials in concrete technology. In recent years, biochar has become an emblematic material with a thousand facets. Mainly investigated up to now as amending in the agricultural field, biochar can be explored as a building material due to its innumerable properties. Indeed, several applications have been studied to use it as a filler to modify the nanogranular nature of the cement matrix, or as a substitute for clinker, aggregates and clay, reducing the carbon footprint and the emissions of greenhouse gases linked to the production processes of cementitious materials. In this paper, nano/micro-particles of biochar, the solid by-product from the gasification process of biomass derived from wood waste, has been used in different cement composites aiming at determining the optimal percentage of addition while trying to guarantee an improvement of mechanical properties. The results showed that an optimized percentage of biochar nano/microparticles can increase the strength and toughness of the composites.