Investigation of the Potential Use of Curauá Fiber for Reinforcing Mortars

Afonso R G De Azevedo,Nikolai Vatin,Andrej Olisov,Roman Fediuk,Markssuel T Marvila,Nataliya Alfimova,Nataliya Alfimova,Sergey Klyuev,Thuany E.S De Lima

doi:10.3390/fib8110069

Abstract

Curauá is a bromeliad of Amazonian origin, present in some states in the northern region of Brazil and in other countries in South America. Its natural fibers have several technological advantages for application in composite materials. The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of using the fiber of Curauá as a reinforcement element in mortars for wall covering. Mortars were made with a 1:1:6 ratio (cement:lime:sand) in relation to their mass, evaluating the effect of adding 1%, 2% and 3% of Curauá fiber natural and fiber treated in NaOH solution in relation to the mass of cement, compared to the reference mixture (0%). Technological properties such as consistency, water retention and incorporated air content, compressive strength, water absorption and durability in wetting and drying cycles were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of the Curauá fiber causes an improvement in the mechanical properties of mortars, and at levels of addition 3% or more, it causes problems of workability and incorporation of air into the dough, thus, the fiber addition in 2% presented better results for application in coating mortars, in relation a Brazilian norm, even improving the durability of external coatings.

Highlights

Cement-based materials are used on a large scale worldwide, and the cement production industry is considered one of the most polluting, given the significant consumption of natural raw material and emission of polluting gases, which contribute to the advancement greenhouse effect [1]
The use of natural fibers has been intensifying in the last decades, mainly in tropical countries and with abundance of these resources like Brazil, it presents some disadvantages due to the non-uniform properties arising from their microstructural features using cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin [3]
It is known that untreated vegetable fibers have a high content of water absorption [34], which is detrimental to the behavior of the material because an internal accumulation of water is responsible for weakening the composite

Summary

Introduction

Cement-based materials are used on a large scale worldwide, and the cement production industry is considered one of the most polluting, given the significant consumption of natural raw material and emission of polluting gases, which contribute to the advancement greenhouse effect [1]. Fibers 2020, 8, 69 reductions of CO2 emissions from the end product, besides the reduction of waste disposal in landfills [5] These alternative building materials have contributed to the advancement of the circular economy concept around the world, introducing the logic of reusing waste that was previously disposed of in landfills in a new production chain [6,7]. The use of natural fibers has been intensifying in the last decades, mainly in tropical countries and with abundance of these resources like Brazil, it presents some disadvantages due to the non-uniform properties arising from their microstructural features using cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin [3]. Another important disadvantage that limits the use of natural fibers in cementitious composites is the question of the durability of the fibers in the cement matrix and its alkalinity in the entourage, the result of several studies, which showed the importance of the superficial treatment [5,8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion