Cement-Bonded Panels Produced with Sugarcane Bagasse Cured by Accelerated Carbonation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate cement-bonded panels produced with sugarcane bagasse cured by accelerated carbonation at early ages. The cement-bonded bagasse panels produced were subjected to two separate curing processes: (1) curing for 2 days (48 h) in a climatic chamber, followed by 25 days in an air-saturated environment; and (2) curing for 2 days (48 h) in a climatic chamber, and after in environment with carbon dioxide (24 h), followed by 24 days in an air-saturated environment. After 28 days of curing, physical and mechanical characterizations were conducted following the recommendations of European regulations. The physical results of the cement-bonded bagasse panels were lower than that the required by international standards. Moreover, accelerated carbonation decreased the water absorption value by 37.29% and the thickness swelling value by 64.84%, i.e., there was an improvement on dimensional stability of the carbonated cement-bonded bagasse panels. In addition, accelerated carbonation increased the mechanical strength values in the bending of the modulus of rupture by 78.69% and the modulus of elasticity by 125.13% of the cement-bonded bagasse panels.