Potential of the hornification treatment on eucalyptus and pine fibers for fiber-cement applications

Abstract

In the industry of cement-based products, various lignocellulosic materials are used as reinforcing elements. These cellulosic materials are presented as potential alternatives because of their sustainability, low cost and technical features. However, plant fibers, in spite of good mechanical performance as reinforcement materials, exhibit a number of shortcomings in relation to durability in the alkaline environment of cementitious materials as well as dimensional variation due to their characteristic hygroscopic behavior. Thus, hornification emerges as an alternative, economic and simple pretreatment that is expected to minimize these problems. This study evaluated the physical, chemical and morphological effects of four hornification cycles on pine pulp and innovative eucalyptus pulps, both bleached and unbleached, proving that the treatment does not deteriorate the characteristics of interest of the fibers. Hornification modifies fiber surfaces and reduces their water absorption capacity, turning the pulps into more suitable materials and giving them the technical capability to reinforce brittle inorganic matrices.