In this work, to improve the interface
interaction between natural
fibers and a cementitious matrix, several Colombian Angustifolia
kunth bamboo fibers were modified using different pretreatment
methods before being covered with an inorganic phase of manganese
oxide. The coating was performed by placing the fiber in contact with
a manganese salt solution at low concentration, followed by drying
of the fibers before performing physicochemical characterization.
The fibers were characterized by atomic absorption, X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The coated fibers were
added to a cementitious matrix, and the mechanical properties of the
resulting composites were measured to determine the optimal treatment
for reinforcing the cementitious matrix. The manganese content in
the modified natural fibers obtained by atomic absorption was between
0.7 and 1.23 wt %, and the manganese oxide was deposited in a uniform
manner onto the surface of the fiber, as indicated by the SEM images.
The XRD patterns indicate some variation of the crystalline structure
of cellulose, the TGA analysis indicates that the raw fiber lost more
weight than did the covered fibers, and the FTIR revealed the vibrational
bands associated with manganese oxide vibration. The mechanical properties
measured by monitoring the flexural strength indicate the interplay
between the physicochemical characterizations and the mechanical performance.
Various samples of the composite material were prepared by varying
the length, and the percentage of the addition of the fiber, and the
flexural strength, toughness, energy index, and total energy of the
samples were measured in all fibrocement materials; the measurement
results indicate an improvement in the flexural strength of the materials
occurred for the composite material synthesized with the addition
of 2% fibers of 2.5 cm length.