Cementitious composites reinforced with natural fibres

Abstract

Natural fibres as dispersed reinforcement in cement-based materials may represent an interesting alternative to industrial fibres, because of their good mechanical properties and inborn sustainability signature. In this section the mechanical properties of Natural Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites (NFRCCs) will be reviewed. Cutting-edge topics will be finally addressed, focusing, on the one hand, on the use of nano-sized cellulose-based constituents in cementitious composites, and, on the other, on the self-healing capacity that natural fibres may bring to cementitious composites. An appendix summarizing the main properties of the natural fibres so far most commonly employed in cementitious composites will complement this information.