Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Cellulose Nanofibers

This study investigates the mechanical effects of incorporating wood-derived cellulose nanofibers (WCNFs) into cementitious composites.Mortar specimens containing 0.1 wt.% WCNFs were evaluated for compressive strength, flexural strength, and flexural toughness at 7 and 28 days.The WCNF-modified mixes showed a 12% increase in compressive strength and a 23% enhancement in flexural strength at 28 days, alongside a 32% gain in flexural toughness.While the control mix exhibited a stable flexural-tocompressive strength ratio, the WCNF mix maintained consistently higher values, indicating a more pronounced effect in flexural response.These results suggest that WCNFs contribute to both matrix refinement and improved post-cracking performance.The findings highlight the potential of CNFs as multifunctional reinforcement for enhancing both strength and toughness in cementitious materials.