Extruded cement based composites reinforced with sugar cane bagasse fibres

Abstract

The extrusion process can produce composites with high-density matrix and fibre packing, low permeability and fibre matrix bond strengthening. This process is also compatible with the use of vegetable fibres as raw materials in the production of cost-effective construction elements such as ceiling panels. Sugar cane bagasse fibres (SCF), one of the largest cellulosic agroindustrial by-products of sugar and alcohol industry available in Brazil, are a renewable resource usually used as a biomass fuel for the boilers. The remaining bagasse is still a source of contamination to the environment, so there is a great interest on exploiting novel applications to sugar cane bagasse fibres. In this work, the effect of SCF on extruded cementitious composite performance was evaluated. Three different contents of SCF were considered, using cellulose pulp as secondary micro-reinforcement to improve the resistance to the appearance of microcracks. Composites were prepared using a laboratory Auger extruder with vacuum chamber and were tested after 28 days of water curing and after 200 accelerated ageing cycles. Modulus of rupture (MOR) and Tenacity (TE) of extruded composites were assessed by four point bending test. Water absorption and apparent volume were determined by water immersion. Microstructure behavior was evaluated by mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that the introduction of larger fibres increased tenacity (TE) at 28 days and favored a higher amount of macropores (0.1 to 1 mm); SEM observations confirmed that fibre degradation occurred after 200 cycles.