Coconut fibers and quartzite wastes for fiber-cement production by extrusion

Abstract

Brazil is worldwide known by production and commercialization of ornamental rocks and its characteristics of great agricultural production. However, along with these productions, tons of wastes are produced and incorrectly abandoned each year. In this sense, the use of these industrial or agricultural wastes in the construction sector is an environmentally correct and economically suitable option. The present study aimed to characterize quartzite wastes and coconut fibers (Cocos nucifera) to be used as reinforcement in cementitious matrix composites, in intention of reducing the fragility of these materials and improve its mechanical properties. The basic density and chemical characterization of the coconut fibers were performed. The Inhibition index of cement solidification, quartzite chemical composition and granulometry were also evaluated. The chemical analysis of the quartzite showed the high percentage of silicon, followed by zirconium and molybdenum, which depends on the region and temperature where it was generated. The granulometric analysis showed that the quartzite of this research was mostly powdered. The chemical analysis of the coconut fiber confirmed the low percentage of extractives (3.38%) what would be a positive factor low for production of composites besides the high content of lignin and cellulose, which could provide an increase in the mechanical properties of the fiber-cement. Coconut fiber showed low inhibition index (<10) of the cement, which could result in a good fiber/matrix interface. The insertion of coconut fibers and quartzite wastes in composites could be an option for more resistant and more sustainable fiber-cement.