Performance and Durability of Cement Based Composites Reinforced with Refined Sisal Pulp

Abstract

This work evaluates the influence of three different intensities of refinement of sisal pulp and the effect of accelerated aging cycles on the behavior of composites. Fiber-cements were prepared by the slurry de-watering method and pressing as a crude simulation of the Hatschek process. Mechanical behavior of composites was evaluated by four-point bending test at 28 days, and after 50 and 100 wet/dry cycles. Refinement of pulp and aging have increased the strength and bulk density of composites and decreased the toughness and porosity. The best mechanical performance after aging was achieved for samples with highly refined fibers.

Keywords:

• Aging
• Cellulose pulp
• Fiber-cement
• Porosity
• Reinforcement
• Sisal fiber
• Wet/dry cycles

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support for this research project was provided by Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp), in Brazil. The authors were supported by grants offered by CNPq and Capes, Brazil. They also acknowledge the support offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in the USA. Sisal Kraft pulp was provided by Lwarcel Celulose e Papel Ltda. and cementitious raw-materials were kindly furnished by Infibra Ltda.

Notes

^aEquivalent volume fraction = ∼4.5%.

^bNBR 11578 [22]. Blast furnace slag = 6 −− 34%; carbonate material = 0 −− 10%.

Specific surface area = 360 m²/kg.

^cSpecific surface area = 450 m²/kg.

^aPulp and Paper Laboratory, Department of Forestry Engineering of the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil.

^aPulp and Paper Laboratory, Department of Forestry Engineering of the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil.