Tensile Characteristics of Coconut Fibers Reinforced Mortar Composites

Abstract

Natural fibers such as coconut fibers are numerous in Indonesia. The tensile strength of coconut fibers produced in this country is among the highest of natural fibers ones. This paper is to determine the tensile strength of coconut fibers with or without special treatment (water washing dry) and assessment the ability of coconut fiber for reinforcement in mortar composites. Experimental observations on coconut fibers and mortars carried out. There were tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) providing microstructural properties of coconut fibers. The results showed that the coconut fibers treatment increases tensile strength and provides higher failure strain values. It showed that coconut fibers largely improved tensile strength behavior of mortar composites. To a conclusion, the coconut fibers are able to be used as reinforcement for ductile mortar composites.