Cellulose Fiber Content Research Articles

Modification of bemban fiber (donax canniformis) with variations in NaOH concentration and soaking time

Abstract Modification and characterization of the physical, chemical and morphological properties of chemically engineered bemban fibers have been carried out with various NaOH concentrations and soaking times. The aim is to obtain the most optimal bemban fiber modification result so that they can be recommended as functional material reinforcement in composites. Fibers were modified by soaking for 1, 2 and 3 hours in NaOH solutions with concentrations of 2%, 3% and 4%; and also at 5% NaOH for 0.5 hours, 1 hour and 2 hours. The modification has reduced the lignin content and increased the cellulose fiber content. These results were confirmed by the results of the functional group spectrum using FTIR and fiber morphology using SEM. The physical properties of fiber such as water content, fiber diameter and porosity decreased while fiber density increased. The characteristics of the bemban fiber with modification in 5% NaOH solution for 2 hours have optimum values for the modifications carried out.

Comprehensive assessment of turfgrass wear tolerance: A study on mechanical and chemical traits

A key criterion in the selection process for turfgrass breeding is effective wear tolerance, indicating the plant's capacity to endure forces that may impact leaves, stems, crowns, and roots. In this study, the correlation between mechanical and chemical traits and the wear tolerance of 37 cultivars belonging to seven turfgrass species was examined. Mechanical properties and fiber characteristics of wide range of turfgrass cultivars were determined and compared for the first time. The evaluation of turf wear tolerance (described as turf cover index, TCI) was conducted through a three-year field trial using a Brinkman traffic simulator. Tensile tests were conducted to determine biomechanical parameters. According to the TCI, the most wear-resistant cultivars were those of Lolium perenne, Most of these cultivars demonstrated a TCI below 0.1. The cultivar 'Nira' was the most resistant, with a TCI of − 0.285. The least resilient cultivars belonged to Festuca ovina and Festuca rubra, all exhibiting TCI values above 0.6. Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis capillaris were characterised by lower cellulose and acid detergent fiber content but high hemicellulose content. The opposite result was determined for Festuca rubra and Festuca ovina. The highest hemicellulose ratio was obtained for Poa pratensis. Lolium perenne was characterised by relatively high content of cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. Cultivars of Festuca arundinace distinctly differed from other cultivars, demonstrating higher mechanical resistance with an average force-to-break of 3.73 N. Cultivars of Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis capillaris reached force-to-break values up to 1.0 N. The relationships between TCI and fiber composition of turfgrass leaves were significant for crude fiber, NDF and hemicellulose content. Thus higher NDF and hemicellulose content resulted in higher force-to-break and work-to-break parameters.

Sustainable composites with self‐healing capability: Epoxidized natural rubber and cellulose propionate reinforced with cellulose fibers

AbstractAligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), self‐healing elastomers stand out as a cutting‐edge field in Rubber Science and Technology. These materials have the potential to reduce resource consumption, prolong the lifespan of infrastructure and products, and contribute to the Circular Economy. This study presents the development of bio‐based self‐healing elastomeric composites prepared from blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and cellulose propionate (CP) reinforced with cellulose fibers (CFs). The ENR/CP ratio was optimized, with a 70/30 ratio enhancing the tensile strength (TS) of the base rubber and slightly reducing the elongation at break. This blend demonstrated a TS healing efficiency of 75% after a temperature‐driven healing protocol (200 bar at 150°C during 12 h). Then, the CF content was varied to enhance both mechanical performance and self‐healing capabilities. Remarkably, from medium‐high (5 phr to 15 phr) CF content, healing efficiencies higher than 85% were observed with important improvements in the mechanical performance. The self‐healing process was attributed to the synergistic interplay between the polymeric chain mobility and the formation of hydrogen bonds. This innovative approach promises materials with extended lifespans, mechanical robustness, and repairability, underscoring the commitment to SDGs 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.Highlights Matrix of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and cellulose propionate (CP) blends. Cellulose fibers (CFs) reinforced the ENR/CP 70/30 optimized blend. CF addition increases tensile strength (TS) by up to 60%. Healing efficiency over 85% achieved with 5 phr to 15 phr CFs content. Self‐healing attributed to polymeric chain mobility and hydrogen bonds.

Extraction and characterization of fiber from the flower stalk of Sansevieria cylindrica.

A number of natural fibers are being proposed for use in composite materials, especially those extracted from local plants, especially those able to grow spontaneously as they are cost-efficient and have unexplored potential. Sansevieria cylindrica, within the Asparagaceae (previously Agavacae) family, has recently been considered for application in polymer and rubber matrix composites. However, its characterization and even the sorting out of technical fiber from the stem remains scarce, with little available data, as is often the case when the fabrication of textiles is not involved. In this study, Sansevieria cylindrica fibers were separated down to the dimensions of a filament at an 8-15 micron diameter from the stem of the plant, then characterized physically and chemically, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as their thermal degradation, by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their crystallinity surface roughness was measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The results indicate over 70% cellulose fibers content with a very high crystallinity (92%) and small crystallite size (1.45 nm), which suggests a low water absorption, with thermal degradation peaking at 294°C. Despite this, due to the significant porosity of the cellular structure, the density of 1.06 g cm-3 is quite low for a mainly cellulose fiber. Roughness measurements indicate that the porosities and foamy structure result in a highly negative skewness (-3.953), in the presence of deep valleys, which may contribute to an effective relation with a covering resin.

Utilizing industrial byproducts for the manufacture of clay-cellulose nanocomposite cements with enhanced sustainability

This study investigates the influence of different nano clay contents (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt% of cement) on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of cement composites reinforced with varying Nano cellulose fiber contents (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt% of cement). Unlike previous research that employed sonication to improve dispersion in the cement matrix, this study explores the effects of unsonicated nano-cellulose addition and the combined incorporation of nano-cellulose and nano-clay. The results demonstrate that these additions significantly enhance the compressive strength, abrasion resistance, and water absorption ratios of the cement composites. Furthermore, the inclusion of nano-clay improves the microstructure of the cement matrix, strengthening the interfacial transition zone and reinforcing the bond between nano-cellulose and the cement matrix. The microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the presence of a dense interconnected structure characterized by rod-like crystals. This research contributes to the development of sustainable construction materials by examining the effects of nano-cellulose and nano-clay on the properties and microstructure of cement composites. The utilization of industrial byproducts, such as wood sawdust, for the extraction of nano-cellulose offers an eco-friendly approach to enhance the performance of cement-based materials. The maximum compressive strength obtained, after 28 days, was at mix with 0.75% NCL + 5%NC with a gain of 53.5% than that of the control mix. In mixes containing only nano-clay (NCL), the increase in NCL content led to a higher rate of water absorption in the cement matrix, which reaches 4%. Confirming the results obtained from compressive strength and water absorption, mix with 0.75% NCL and 5% NC had obtained the optimum values with an improvement of 20% than that of the control mix.

Effects of alkaline‐acid treatment on the physiochemical attributes of natural cellulosic fiber of Arundo donaxL

AbstractIn the present investigation, the cellulose fibers were extracted from Arundo donax through a three‐step treatment. The effects of the alkaline pre‐treatment, acid hydrolysis, and soxhlet‐based extraction on the qualitative and quantitative attributes of the resultant cellulose fibers were investigated. The results of the present study signify a positive correlation between chemical treatment and cellulose content. The overall yield conversion of cellulose was recorded as 156.67%, after Soxhlet‐based purification. It was also observed that the moisture content, percentage of water absorption, rate of water absorption, and ash mass fraction gradually declined after each treatment step. The correlation between the chemical treatment with quantitative and qualitative attributes revealed a gradual increment in cellulose content, crystallinity index, and purity of cellulose fiber extracted from A. donax. The FTIR spectra emphasized that the obtained cellulose was free from impurities after Soxhlet‐based extraction. Simultaneously the DTG curve of A. donax fiber revealed a low rate of derivatization in the fibers extracted after Soxhlet treatment. The SEM and EDX analysis illustrate that the cellulose fibers were devoid of impurities as well as contamination of heavy metal ions.

Unlocking the molecular basis of wheat straw composition and morphological traits through multi-locus GWAS

BackgroundRapid reductions in emissions from fossil fuel burning are needed to curb global climate change. Biofuel production from crop residues can contribute to reducing the energy crisis and environmental deterioration. Wheat is a renewable source for biofuels owing to the low cost and high availability of its residues. Thus, identifying candidate genes controlling these traits is pivotal for efficient biofuel production. Here, six multi-locus genome-wide association (ML-GWAS) models were applied using 185 tetraploid wheat accessions to detect quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) for fifteen traits associated with biomass composition.ResultsAmong the 470 QTNs, only 72 identified by at least two models were considered as reliable. Among these latter, 16 also showed a significant effect on the corresponding trait (p.value < 0.05). Candidate genes survey carried out within 4 Mb flanking the QTNs, revealed putative biological functions associated with lipid transfer and metabolism, cell wall modifications, cell cycle, and photosynthesis. Four genes encoded as Cellulose Synthase (CeSa), Anaphase promoting complex (APC/C), Glucoronoxylan 4-O Methyltransferase (GXM) and HYPONASTIC LEAVES1 (HYL1) might be responsible for an increase in cellulose, and natural and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF) content in tetraploid wheat. In addition, the SNP marker RFL_Contig3228_2154 associated with the variation in stem solidness (Q.Scsb-3B) was validated through two molecular methods (High resolution melting; HRM and RNase H2-dependent PCR; rhAMP).ConclusionsThe study provides new insights into the genetic basis of biomass composition traits on tetraploid wheat. The application of six ML-GWAS models on a panel of diverse wheat genotypes represents an efficient approach to dissect complex traits with low heritability such as wheat straw composition. The discovery of genes/genomic regions associated with biomass production and straw quality parameters is expected to accelerate the development of high-yielding wheat varieties useful for biofuel production.

The chemical and physical properties of steam-exploded wood at different temperatures and times at the same severity as a dietary fiber source

The chemical and physical properties of steam-exploded pine chips were analyzed by varying the temperature (190 °C to 230 °C) and time (1.5 min to 20.0 min) of steam explosion at the same severity factor (Ro), i.e., 4.0. Then, their potential as a dietary fiber source was evaluated. Overall, the chemical properties, e.g., solid recovery, cellulose, hemicellulose, and total dietary fiber content, showed a tendency to decrease as the temperature increased as well as an increasing lignin content. The physical properties, e.g., water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, and swelling capacity, showed decreased values in pine chips subjected to steam explosion at a temperature of 210 °C or greater. The chemical and physical properties of the steam-exploded pine chips, which were subjected to steam explosion at different temperatures and times at the selected Ro) considerably changed, starting at a temperature of 200 °C for 11.5 min. Even with the same severity factor, the steam-exploded pine chips at a temperature of 200 °C for 11.5 min showed the greatest improvement in the physical properties, i.e., water holding capacity (8.3 g/g), oil holding capacity (6.8 g/g), and swelling capacity (4.9 mL/g).

Effect of particle size on composition, physicochemical, functional, and structural properties of insoluble dietary fiber concentrate from citrus peel.

To investigate the composition, physicochemical, functional, and structural properties of citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate from citrus peel affected by different particle sizes, citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate was modified by coarse crush and superfine grinding treatments. The results showed that the contents of hemicellulose and lignin significantly decrease and a significant increase in cellulose and insoluble dietary fiber contents with the reduction in particle size. In addition, the markedly decreased particle size and obviously microstructural changes of citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate powder were observed. The color value of citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate was observably improved, crystallinity and thermal stability of modified fiber slightly increase with the decrease in particle size, which is due to the partial elimination of hemicellulose and lignin after the treatments. However, water holding capacity, water swelling capacity, and oil holding capacity were found to be lower with the reduction in particle size, which might be attributed to the fact that superfine grinding treatment destroyed the structure integrity, thus causing some soluble components to break away from the cellulose backbone, or due to aggregation of smaller granules. The present study suggested that decreasing the particle size could effectively change some properties of citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate, which will provide new perspectives for the application of citrus insoluble dietary fiber concentrate in food products.

Enhanced microfibrillation of Miscanthus × giganteus biomass by binary-enzymes pre-treatment

Miscanthus, a high yield and low maintenance perennial plant with a high cellulose fiber contents, is a potential feedstock for pulp production. In this study, a binary enzyme cocktail of cellulase and laccase was employed for the extraction of cellulose microfibers from miscanthus biomass. The effect of enzyme concentrations (0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25%, w/w) for the binary enzymes (cellulase-laccase: 1:1 ratio) pre-treatments on pulp and hand-sheet materials were studied and compared with those prepared from the single enzyme (cellulase or laccase) pre-treatment. The binary enzymes concentration at 0.25% (w/w) showed the maximum extraction yield of cellulose (47.2%, w/w) and lignin (27.9%, w/w). The resulting fibers had 43.7% crystallinity, a degree of polymerization of 1435, a water retention value of 312.7%, and a crystallite size of 23.4 nm. Furthermore, the resulting fibers from binary enzymes concentration at 0.25% (w/w) exhibited a higher thermal stability and fibrillated strands than those obtained from the single enzyme pre-treatment. Hand-sheets developed from the cellulose microfibers extracted by the enzyme cocktail at 0.25% (w/w) enzyme concentration showed higher mechanical properties and water absorption capacity than those prepared from the single enzyme pre-treatment.

Elephant grass cv. BRS capiaçu silage with inclusion of different proportions of silk cotton

The objective was to evaluate the qualitative and nutritional aspects of elephant grass cv. BRS capiaçu silage with increasing proportions of silk cotton. A completely randomized design was used with five (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60% on natural matter basis) different inclusion proportions of silk cotton to elephant grass silage and four repetitions. Silages were prepared in PVC minisilos and remained ensiled for 42 days. The inclusion of silk cotton resulted in a linear reduction in dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) contents at 0.06, 0.30, 0.23, 0.20, and 0.09 percentage points for each 1% inclusion, respectively. There was an increasing linear effect of crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), with an increase of 39.32 and 20.89% from the lowest to the highest inclusion of silk cotton to elephant grass cv. BRS capiaçu silage. Values of pH, gas losses (GL), effluent losses (EL), dry matter recovery (DMR), hemicellulose, and lignin were not influenced by the evaluated inclusion levels, showing estimated averages of 3.87, 1, 42%, 11.55kg t-1 natural matter, 97.36%, 19.30%, and 7.20%, respectively. An increasing linear effect was found for fraction a, c, effective degradability (ED) (2% and 5%) dry matter, with an increment of 0.05, 0.0005, and 0.11 percent points, respectively. There was a quadratic effect for fraction b, potential degradability (PD), ED (2%), with minimum points of 23.72%, 50.52%, (at 45% inclusion level) 39.69%, (at 15% inclusion level) respectively. The indigestible fraction (IF) had a quadratic effect with a maximum of 49.48% at the 45% inclusion level. The colonization time (CT) linearly reduced by 0.09 percentage points for each 1% inclusion evaluated. According to the parameters evaluated, the inclusion of up to 60% silk cotton improved nutritional aspects and nutritional value of elephant grass cv. BRS capiaçu silage.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Membrane from Cotton Spinning Waste

Cellulose acetate membrane (CAM) was successfully synthesized and characterized from the cotton spinning waste of the textile industry. The membrane was produced through the isolation, acetylation, and phase inversion stages. The highest yields of cellulose fiber and α-cellulose contents were obtained using 3.0% and 6.0% v/v NaClO, respectively. The C–O acetyl bond detected by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicates the formation of the CAM. The resulting membrane can be potentially applied as an ultrafiltration membrane for water desalination purposes in water and wastewater treatment facilities. Furthermore, the utilization of cotton spinning waste as raw material aims to produce inexpensive products and recycle solid waste from the textile industry.

Compressive Creep Behavior of Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Concrete

The effect of cellulose fiber on the long-term compressive creep performance of concrete was clarified. For this, the long-term compressive creep properties of four cellulose fiber reinforced concrete (CFRC) groups with contents of 0, 0.9 kg/m3, 1.1 kg/m3, and 1.3 kg/m3 were investigated using a spring creep tester. Loading ages of 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days, and a loading stress ratio of 0.40 were employed. Furthermore, the creep model of CFRC was established. The results revealed that the creep of concrete at three loading ages decreases by 16%, 12%, and 17%, respectively, after adding cellulose fiber to the concrete. With increasing loading age, the difference of creep degree of CFRC with different cellulose fiber content decreased gradually. Furthermore, the range of specific creep decreased from 8 × 10−6 / MPa for a 7 day loading age to 2 × 10−6 / MPa for a 28 day loading age. The change regulation of CFRC creep coefficient was similar to that of the specific creep. The influence of the cellulose fiber on the creep performance of the concrete was reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, the internal curing effect of cellulose fiber can optimize the microstructure of concrete and reduce the creep deformation. On the other hand, the fiber increases the water migration channel and defects of interface transition zone, which will increase the creep deformation. The power exponential function model for CFRC creep provided a good description of the relationship between creep and loading age and holding time. This model can be used to predict the long-term creep of CFRC under different loading ages.

Effect of Modified Silica Fume and Cellulose Fiber Used as Fillers on Properties of Antivibration Rubber

The effect of modified silica fume (mSF) and cellulose fiber (CF) content on the cure characteristics, mooney viscosity, mechanical, durability and heat resistance properties are investigated; as compared with SF and unfilled natural rubber. From the results reveal that mSF and CF affect not only fast cure rate, high viscosity but also improve rubber mechanical and heat resistance properties. Additionally, the mSF and CF are added into the natural rubber to produce antivibration rubber product and then study the rubber product performance such as durability properties. The mSF and CF effective in improving the crack resistance of antivibration rubber product more than SF and unfilled natural rubber which is due to enhancing the stiffness. The all obtained results, it can be proved that mSF and CF as the new alternative fillers in rubber industry.

KARAKTERISASI MIKROKRISTALIN SELULOSA DARI KULIT JAGUNG PULUT (Zea mays L. Var Ceratina Kulesh)

Corn husk is a part of the plant that has a high cellulose fiber content, which is around 44.08%, so it is potentially to be used as a source of raw material of microcrystalline cellulose. The purpose of this research was to synthesize and determine the characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose produced from corn husk. The making of microcrystalline cellulose was carried out in two stages, namely delignification using NaOH solvent with five variations of concentration (7,5%, 10%, 12,5%, 15% and 17,5%) and hydrolyzed using 2,5 N HCl. Characteristic test for microcrystalline cellulose included organoleptic, pH, flow time and stationary angle, FTIR, and XRD. The results showed that microcrystalline cellulose produced from corn husk had characteristics such as fine powder, white and odorless, pH was 7.0, flow time was 0.3 g/sec, a stationary angle was 54 o , FTIR analysis showed a typical peak of cellulose namely 3411,05 for O-H and 2900,61 for C-H, with a crystallinity degree was 79%.

Effects of cellulose fibers on the properties of asphalt mixtures

• Mechanical properties were more sensitive to CF addition methods than volumetric. • CF orientation and distribution may affect the variation in measured properties. • No unique CF-asphalt mixture met all the required properties. • The determination of optimum CF content was inconclusive. Various types of additives have been used in asphalt pavement industry to improve the performance. Among these additives, fibers have received increasing attention to achieve the desired improvement. This investigation aims to evaluate the effect of applying dry and wet methods separately to introduce the cellulose fibers (CF) into the local hot mix asphalt (HMA). The evaluation was carried out by measuring the volumetric and mechanical proprieties of conventional (control) and CF-asphalt mixtures. This study also aims to examine the possibility of using the cellulose fiber as a sustainable material in the local asphalt pavement industry. The effect of variations in cellulose fibers content; 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% by the weight of asphalt cement, aggregate source (Al-Nibaay and Al-Suddor aggregates), and two methods (wet and dry) for adding cellulose fibers to asphalt mixtures are evaluated. Marshall methodology and indirect tensile strength test (ITS) were applied to investigate the effects of these variables. The results of this study showed that the difference in mechanical properties of the fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures was more sensitive to CF application methods in these mixtures than the difference in volumetric properties. In addition, the wet method improved most properties of Al-Nibaay aggregate asphalt mixtures while the dry method improved most properties of Al-Suddor aggregate asphalt mixtures. Determination of optimum CF content was found inconclusive due to the wide variation in the measured properties. CF can be recommended as a promising sustainable additive to improve the properties of local asphalt pavement. However, further investigation remains necessary to precisely determine the optimum CF content in parallel with the optimum asphalt content and it is also important to assess the resistance of CF-asphalt mixtures to moisture damage and aging.

Microfibrillated cellulose from sweet sorghum (Shorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench) fiber by twin screw extruder and its charateristics on polylactic acid biocomposites

High tensile strength and modulus could be obtained by microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) addition into PLA matric. MFC production from sweet sorghum fiber with twin screw extruder (TSE) could be an effective mechanical treatment. The objective of this research is to study the effectivity of twin screw extruders for MFC production from sweet sorghum fiber and to analyze its effect on PLA biocomposites properties. Sorghum fiber was firstly delignificated with alkaline treatments and bleached with sodium peroxide solution to produce high cellulose content of fiber. Bleached sorghum fiber was then passed through into TSE for 1, 3, and 5 passes. Afterward, PLA biocomposites with MFC from TSE process were produced by the solvent casting method. Twin screw extruder with co-rotating intermeshing flow is effective for defibrillation and size reduction of cellulose fibers which could achieve 1-10 μm in diameter and millimeters in length.. The tensile strength of PLAM_TSE5 increase 4.54% in 50.60 Mpa and modulus of elasticity increase 40.36% in 2.82 Gpa. Storage modulus of PLAM_TSE5 also increases 10.64% in 3.088 Mpa compare to pure PLA.

One-step twin-screw extrusion process of cellulose fibers and hydroxyethyl cellulose to produce fibrillated cellulose biocomposite

In this work, the defibrillation of cellulose fibers (CF) in the presence of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) within the one-step twin-screw extrusion (TSE) process was examined. The effect of the TSE on cellulose fiber size reduction as well as CF-HEC biocomposites properties were investigated. The results showed that the TSE of cellulose fiber-hydroxyethyl cellulose (CF-HEC) with different cellulose fiber contents (50, 65, and 80 wt%) resulted in partial defibrillation of the cellulose fibers. The fractionation test of the cellulose fibers confirmed that their size was reduced and some fibrillation was observed in microscopy studies. The maximum width reduction of 46% occurred with 80 wt% cellulose content. However, the partial width reduction was also observed with 50% and 65 wt% of cellulose contents. Based on rheological measurements, the shear-viscosity trend of CF-HEC dispersion abruptly dropped when higher fiber content (80 wt%) was extruded, which was related to the fibrillation of the cellulose fibers as well as the reduction of the length. The extruded CF-HEC materials (powder form) were compression molded to prepare the biocomposites with different cellulose fiber contents (50, 65, and 80 wt%). The extruded CF-HEC powders were diluted with addition extra HEC to make biocomposites with lower fiber content (20%, 30%, and 40 wt%) and compression molded to study how the size reduction of the cellulose fibers affected the mechanical properties of biocomposites. The results showed that the E-modulus improved from 0.4 GPa of the neat HEC to 1.6 GPa for the composite with 40 wt% CF. Interestingly, the tensile strength of CF-HEC biocomposite with 40 wt% confirmed a clear improvement from 9.8 to 26.6 MPa, confirming good interaction between HEC and CF.Graphic abstract Preparation (mixing, TSE, and hot-pressing) and characterization (FE-SEM, rheometry, and tensile test) of CF-HEC biocomposite

Tests of Fiber Cement Materials Containing Recycled Cellulose Fibers.

This paper presents the results of investigations into the effect of the use of recycled waste paper cellulose fibers on the properties of fiber cement boards subjected to contamination by moisture. Four series of fiber cement boards were tested. A reference fiber cement board manufactured without the use of recycled cellulose fibers constituted as one of the series. The other three series consisted of boards differing in their recycled cellulose fiber content-ranging from 10% to 50% of the total cellulose fiber content. Specimens of the fiber cement boards were subjected to contamination by moisture by storing them in water for 1–96 h. Subsequently, their basic physical and mechanical parameters, i.e., mass moisture content, absorbability, and modulus of rupture (MOR), were tested. Then, the specimens were investigated by means of acoustic emission during three-point bending. Artificial neural networks were employed to analyze the acoustic emission test results. The tests clearly showed the amount of recycled waste paper cellulose fibers and the length of storage in water to have an adverse effect on the boards, contributing to their degradation. This was reflected in the decrease of the acoustic emission (AE) events count recognized by the artificial neural networks, accompanying the rupture of fibers during the three-point bending of the specimens. In order to gain a more detailed insight into the changes taking place in the structure of the tested fiber cement boards, optical examinations were carried out by means of a scanning electron microscope. Interesting findings crucial for building practice were noted.

Analysis of the Structure of Cellulose Fibers Using the Imagej Program and Fibercement Properties on their Basis

This article presents the results of an experimental study of the effect of morphometric parameters of secondary cellulose fiber from various brands of waste paper on the strength characteristics of cement stone. The article is based on the results of determining the morphometric parameters of cellulose fibers. Visual analysis of microphotographs of cellulosic fibers showed that the smallest fractions of fibers were obtained from newspaper waste paper of grade MS-8V. A causal relationship has been established between the fiber content and the strength of an incident stone. It was found that samples with a content of cellulose fibers of 0.5-0.75% of the mass of cement have high strength. The most durable were samples with the addition of cellulosic fibers based on newspaper recycled paper MS-8V.