Characterization of Licuri (Syagrus Coronata) fibre to use in fibre-cement composites

E. A. Guimares1,2, A. E. Martinelli3
Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Ba, Brazil , 2Instituto Federal de Educao, Cincia e Tecnologia da Bahia, Salvador, Ba, Brazil, 3Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN,
INTRODUCTION AND OBJETIVE This work is part of the worldwide effort to replace composites made from asbestos-cement and the production of low-cost building elements [1]. Syagrus Coronata is one of the most important palm tree of the semiarid region of Brazil. It provides food and is used as raw material for construction and handicraft. It can be found in the region extending from the states of Pernambuco to Bahia and is perfectly adapted to this region characterized by long dry periods and short rainy seasons [2]. This study is the preliminary stage of a research on the potential use of licuri fibre in fibre-cement composites. Dry palms were purchased, defiberized, immersed in hexane to remove wax and finally chopped. Figure 3 Illustrates thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were carried out showing an onset of weight loss at 35.9 oC, weight loss of 12.6% at 100.0 oC and total mass loss slightly above 500 C.
1Universidade

Figure 1 Fibre chopping process.

Figure 2 - scanning electron micrograph of licuri fibre.

7.0 6.0 5.0 Strain (%) 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Samples (Un) 9 10 11 12 13 14

Figure 3 - Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data showing weight loss of licuri fibre.

Figures 4 and 5 show the results of direct tensile tests carried out by the DMA analyzer. They show strain and tensile stress in the rupture of 14 samples. Note that the results show a considerable degree of dispersion. This dispersion is smaller in strain values than in tension. The main factor that contributes to this dispersion are the geometric and material heterogeneities of the samples.

Figure 4 Strain tensile in rupture of licuri fibre samples (DMA Analyser) .

220 200 180 stress tension (MPa) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Samples (Un) 9 10 11 12 13 14
(b)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To CAPES for the financial support.

REFERENCES [1] H. SavastanoJr.,*, P.G. Warden, R.S.P. Coutts. Brazilian waste fibres as reinforcement for cement-based composites.Cement& Concrete Composites, v. 22, pp. 379-384 (2000). [2] LICURI. Ministrio da Educao. Secretaria de Educao Profissional e Tecnolgica. Braslia 2006.

Figure 5 Stress tensile in rupture of licuri fibre samples (DMA Analyser).

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