No abstract

Fibers obtained from different parts of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) have been under investigation for possible use in construction. Studies have been carried out investigating the engineering properties and possible applications of these fibers. However, the experimental methods employed and the values of mechanical and physical properties recorded by various authors are inconsistent. It has therefore become necessary to organize information which would be useful in the design of oil palm fiber cement composites and help researchers and engineers make informed decisions in further research and application. This review provides information about fibers from different parts of the oil palm, their properties, enhancement techniques, current and potential application in cement composites.

The use of natural fibres such as oil palm broom fibres (OPBF) for reinforcing cementitious composites though reported to be beneficial from economic and environmental standpoints have generated durability concerns that have caused investigations into possible fibre treatments. In this study, three (3) types of treatments were carried out on OPBF. These include alkalisation, silanization and hot-water treatments.

The use of leaflet ribs from oil palm trees - Oil Palm Broom Fibres (OPBF) in reinforcingcement composites have shown some prospects according to recent studies. However, only little isunderstood regarding their bond interaction with cement matrices. Samples were prepared toinvestigate the pull-out response of OPBF in both single and combined form from concrete. For thecombined fibres, single OPBF strands were wound around one another longitudinally (in helical form)to form tendons. A comparison was made between the maximum bond strengths of untreated andtreated OPBF in concrete. The OPBF were pre-treated by soaking in sodium hydroxide andtriethylvinylsilane solutions to improve their bond strength with concrete. The reported treatmentscould improve the potential of OPBF tendons as reinforcement in lightly loaded concrete beamsultimately resulting in an environmentally friendly and affordable construction.

The use of vegetative fibres in reinforcing concrete is currently attracting research attention because it is void of the high carbon footprint and cost associated with use of conventional reinforcements like steel. One of such vegetable fibres is the ribs of the leaflets of the oil palm tree whose only use has been for making brooms. However, these ribs referred to as Oil Palm Broom Fibres (OPBF) have mechanical characteristics similar to steel and can be incorporated in concrete to improve its mechanical properties. With a specific gravity of 0.84, an average length of 800mm and cross-sectional diameter varying between 0.20mm (at the tail) and 4.00mm (at the head), maximum tensile strength of 900MPa was recorded in the study, hence making the fibres superior to steel in terms of strength-to-weight ratio. Optical microscopy of fibre cross sections reveals randomly dispersed xylem cavities, a densely packed core but lightly packed cortex. This radial and longitudinal density gradient is responsible for the phenomenon whereby towards the cap of the fibres, the fibres are stiffer in bending but reduces in tensile strength. Investigation of mechanical properties of concrete incorporating OPBF as random fibre-reinforcement was carried out. Although the inclusion of OPBF in concrete reduces its compressive strength, the post-yield behaviour shows that energy absorption of the composite is enhanced, making OPBF-concrete a potential material for low-cost seismic construction.