Characterization and treatment of sisal fiber residues for cement-based composite application

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Sisal fiber is an important agricultural product used in the manufacture of ropes, rugs and also as a reinforcement of polymeric or cement-based composites. However, during the fiber production process a large amount of residues is generated which currently have a low potential for commercial use. The aim of this study is to characterize the agricultural residues by the production and improvement of sisal fiber, called field bush and refugo and verify the potentiality of their use in the reinforcement of cement-based composites. The residues were treated with wet-dry cycles and evaluated using tensile testing of fibers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Compatibility with the cement-based matrix was evaluated through the fiber pull-out test and flexural test in composites reinforced with 2 % of sisal residues. The results indicate that the use of treated residue allows the production of composites with good mechanical properties that are superior to the traditional composites reinforced with natural sisal fibers.

Polyhydroxybutyrate Composites with Random Mats of Sisal and Coconut Fibers

“…Some studies show that the coconut fibers have a larger diameter than sisal fibers. By Lima et al 66 , it was found that the average diameter of the sisal fibers was 280 µm ± 27 which is close to the value found in this study. Verma et al 67 showed that the diameter of the sisal fibers is a range of 50 to 200 µm, whereas the diameter of coconut fibers is in a range of 100-450 µm.…”

Deflection hardening of sustainable fiber–cement composites

“…This thickness value is associated with the apparent diameter of the fiber, assuming a theoretical model in which the cross section is circular. However, it is known that the fiber section has multiple shapes and may vary along the length 23 . To reduce the error, sixty diameter measures were conducted for each treatment.…”

Characterization of Polypropylene Composite Reinforced with Wood Flour or Cellulose Fiber

“…This property causes cause wood is not easy to be combined with non-organic materials such as hydrophobic (water-resistant) plastics. Combination of these two different properties materials will result in weak bond between fiber and matrix, and make it incompatible with a hydrophobic plastic matrix, due to the low wettability and weakness of the interface [4,5,6]. A weak bond between a hydrophilic fiber and a hydrophobic matrix can affect the physical and mechanical properties of the composite product.…”