Propriedades mecânicas, físicas e químicas de compósitos cimentícios reforçados com fibras longas de juta e de malva

Abstract

The work in hand deals with the experimental investigation of the mechanical, physical and chemical behavior of jute and malva fibers as well as the cementitious composites reinforced by those fibers. The composites were produced with a self-consolidating matrix free of ca1cium hydroxide. Long and unidirectional aligned fibers distributed in five layers were used as reinforcement. This arrangement resulted in a reinforcement ratio of 8%. The fibers were investigated by chemical analysis, thermogravimetry, microstructural observation and direct tensile tests. Direct tension, four point bending tests and microstructural observation were the techniques used to characterize the composites. The physical and mechanical results indicated that both fibers have properties adequate for being used as reinforcement in high performance composites. The newly developed fiber reinforced composites presented promising mechanical properties towards the development of semi-structural and structural elements. The composites reinforced with malva fibers presented mechanical resistance higher than those reinforced withjute (around 20% in the flexural and 10 % in the tensile strength). Both composites presented a multiple cracking behavior under bending and tensile loads.