Preparation and Properties of Glass Fiber/Plant Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Because of its low cost, easy access and reproducibility, plant fiber has a wide range of applications in the field of synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers are added to cement-based materials, which can improve their mechanical properties and give the material new functionalities and applications. Cement-based materials and glass fibers constitute a glass fiber/cement-based composite material. The effects of plant fiber composition and structure on the hydration and mechanical properties of cementitious composites were studied. During the experiment, a variety of rice straw fibers were selected. Straw fiber was subjected to steam explosion and bleaching pre-treatment. The results showed that the maximum hydration rate of glass fiber/cement-based composites was reduced after 10 wt.% of rice straw fiber samples were replaced by equivalent amounts of glass fiber/cement matrix composites. The time to reach the maximum hydration rate was prolonged. The prolongation of time increased with the degree of fiber pre-treatment. From rice and bamboo pulp, cellulose is extracted as a reinforcing fiber. Vacuum dehydration method was used to prepare cellulose/glass fiber reinforced cement composite material. The introduction of cellulose can reduce the bulk density of the glass fiber/cement composite by 15% to 35%. The mechanical properties of glass fiber/cement composites are improved. When the content of cellulose is 8 wt.%-12 wt.%, the bending resistance of cellulose modified glass fiber/cement composites can be optimized.