Brazilian waste fibres as reinforcement for cement-based composites

Fibre reinforced cement-based composites were prepared using kraft pulps From sisal and banana waste and from Eucalyptus grandis pulp mill residues. The study adapted conventional chemical pulping conditions for the non-wood strands and a slurry vacuum de-watering method for composite preparation followed by air-curing. Plain cement paste and Pinus radiata kraft reinforced cement composites were used as reference materials. Mechanical testing showed that optimum performance of the various waste fibre reinforced composites was obtained at a fibre content of around 12% by mass, with flexural strength values of about 20 MPa and fracture toughness values in the range of 1.0-1.5 kJ m(-2). Experimental results showed that, of the waste fibres studied, E. grandis is the preferred reinforcement for low-cost fibre-cement. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.