Durability evaluation of treated pineapple leaf biopolymer composites for enhanced eco-friendly mortar towards sustainability

The present work aimed to investigate the prospect of reusing natural fibers obtained from pineapples as a reinforcing element in eco-friendly mortar exploring physical, morphological, and chemical characteristics of natural fibers in untreated and treated conditions using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for building materials. Also, the technological properties of mortars in fresh state, including setting time, drying shrinkage, and sorptivity were assessed. In addition, extensive research was conducted on solidification stage of mortars, which includes durability, flexural, and compression test. The results revealed that treating fiber with 6% NaOH enhanced the fiber properties, and incorporation of 2.5% treated fiber by mass of cement resulted in improved technological and durability properties of mortar. Furthermore, this proposed novel approach not only enhances the mechanical characteristics of mortar but also addresses the potential for utilizing natural fibers in cementitious building materials thereby reducing environmental impacts.