Sisal organosolv pulp as reinforcement for cement based composites

Abstract

The present work describes non-conventional sisal (Agave sisalana) chemical (organosolv) pulp from residues of cordage as reinforcement to cement based materials. Sisal organosolv pulp was produced in a 1:1 ethanol/water mixture and post chemically and physically characterized in order to compare its properties with sisal kraft pulp. Cement based composites reinforced with organosolv or kraft pulps and combined with polypropylene (PP) fibres were produced by the slurry de-watering and pressing method as a crude simulation of the Hatschek process. Composites were evaluated at 28 days of age, after exposition to accelerated carbonation and after 100 soak/dry cycles. Composites containing organosolv pulp presented lower mechanical strength, water absorption and apparent porosity than composites reinforced with kraft pulp. The best mechanical performance after ageing was also achieved by samples reinforced with kraft pulp. The addition of PP fibres favoured the maintenance of toughness after ageing. Accelerated carbonation promoted the densification of the composites reinforced with sisal organosolv + PP fibres.

Recent advances in experimental studies of the mechanical behaviour of natural fibre‐reinforced cementitious composites

“…Pulping can be achieved mechanically or chemically , , . Compared with kraft pulping, organosolv‐pulped fibres can improve the water absorption, apparent voids and mechanical properties of the composites . Besides, compared with banana pulp and coir pulp, composites reinforced with sisal pulp and eucalyptus pulp exhibit a higher modulus of rupture of about 20 MPa and a fracture toughness in the range 1.0–1.5 kJ/m 2 for fibre contents of 8 and 12 wt.% respectively , , , .…”

“…Organofunctional silane coupling agents were also reported to be able to reduce the hydrophilic behaviour of natural fibres , thus improving the physicochemical interactions at the fibre‐matrix interphase after exposure to an aggressive environment , . However, the cementitious composites reinforced with fibres treated with silane coupling agents do not exhibit the mechanical performance as the cementitious composites containing chemically treated kraft pulp fibres , , . Another coating method uses isocyanate or its derivative, urethane.…”

Non-conventional cement-based composites reinforced with vegetable fibers: A review of strategies to improve durability

“…Savastano et al (34) and Joaquim et al (41) presented the attempt to produce viable fiber-cement materials using the Hatschek method and non-conventional pulps of sisal (Agave sisalana) as reinforcement. In those studies (34,41) the performance as reinforcement of the fibers obtained from commercial and by-product sisal (Agave sisalana) by thermomechanical pulping, chemi-thermomechanical pulping and organosolv processes were investigated.…”

Caracterização De Fibrocimentos Com Fibra De Bambu Obtida Por Diferentes Métodos De Polpação

“…Um método alternativo ao Kraft é o organossolve, que consiste em cozinhar a matéria prima em solventes orgânicos, como etanol, com intuito de reduzir ou até eliminar as águas residuais altamente poluente resultante dos outros processos usuais (MUTJÉ, 2005;JOAQUIM, 2009).…”