scholarly journals The Effects of Coir Fibers on Workability and Strength Properties of Concrete

Neutron ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghulam Shabir Solangi Solangi ◽  
Gulmir Khan Sahito Sahito ◽  
Manthar Ali Keerio Keerio

This study aimed toward analyzing length and content of coir fiber on workability and strength of concrete. For this purpose, different fractions of coir fibers of length as 10 mm, 20 mm and 30mm are used with varying proportions as 0.15%, 20%,0.25%,0.3% and 0.35% by the volume of concrete. One mix of control concrete and 15 mixes of concrete with inclusion of cot fibers were prepared. The experiments were conducted to check the workability, compressive and tensile strength of concrete. It was observed from conducted research, that the workability is decreased with increasing the content of coir fibers. On the basis of conducted research, the inclusion of 0.25% of coir fibers of length 20mm is optimum. With inclusion of  0.25% of coir fibers of length 20mm, compressive and tensile strength is improved as compared to control mix.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1611 ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadira Mathura ◽  
Duncan Cree ◽  
Ryan P. Mulligan

ABSTRACTIn many tropical countries coconut (coir) fiber production is a major source of income for rural communities. The Caribbean has an abundance of coconuts but research into utilizing its by-products is limited. Environmentally friendly coir fibers are natural polymers generally discarded as waste material in this region. Research has shown that coir fiber from other parts of the world has successfully been recycled. This paper therefore investigates the mechanical properties of Caribbean coir fiber for potential applications in civil engineering.Approximately four hundred fibers were randomly taken from a coir fiber stack and subjected to retting in both distilled and saline water media. The mechanical properties of both the retted and unretted coir fibers were evaluated at weekly increments for a period of 3 months. Tensile strength test, x-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron micrographs were used to assess trends and relationships between fiber gauge lengths, diameter, tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Diameters ranged between 0.11 mm-0.46 mm, while fiber samples were no longer than 250 mm in length. The tensile strength and strain at break decreased as the gauge length increased for both unretted and retted fibers. The opposite occurred for the relationship between the gauge length and Young’s modulus. Additionally, the tensile strength and modulus decreased as the fiber diameter increased. Neither distilled nor saline water improved the coir fiber’s crystalline index. Scanning electron micrographs qualitatively assessed fiber surfaces and captured necking and microfibril degradation at the fractured ends.The analysis revealed that the tensile strength, modulus, strain at break and crystallinity properties of the Caribbean coir fibers were comparable to commercially available coir fiber which are currently being used in many building applications.



2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Viet Quoc Nguyen ◽  
Linh Vu Viet Nguyen ◽  
Sinh Ngoc Pham ◽  
Tuyen Ngoc Kim Nguyen ◽  
Tri Minh Phan ◽  
...  

Over past few years, the polymer composite materials based on coir fibers have grown rapidly and have even found new markets as well as many research projects due to its cost effect and environmentally-friendly manner. In Vietnam, the coir fibers have a good quality, especially in Ben Tre province. In this research, we investigated the size of coir fibers which was produced from dried nuts stripped via hand-made coir fiber extracting machine. The coir fibers with the largest diameter distribution have evaluated the average tensile strength. In the other hand, the coir fibers have treated via a sodium hydroxide solution process to obtained refine-coir fibers which were following investigated the mechanical testing based on composite materials of polyester resin. The results showed that the treatment of the sodium hydroxide solution process causes a decrease of coir fiber average diameter. Increasing the temperature and concentration of sodium hydroxide solution leads to the decreasing of coir fiber average diameter. Moreover, the optimum condition (5% of NaOH, 50oC) enhanced the tensile strength of fibers reaching to 40% comparing with those untreated fibers.



TAPPI Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 731-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARITA KINNUNEN-RAUDASKOSKI ◽  
KRISTIAN SALMINEN ◽  
JANI LEHMONEN ◽  
TUOMO HJELT

Production cost savings by lowering basis weight has been a trend in papermaking. The strategy has been to decrease the amount of softwood kraft pulp and increase use of fillers and recycled fibers. These changes have a tendency to lower strength properties of both the wet and dry web. To compensate for the strength loss in the paper, a greater quantity of strength additives is often required, either dosed at the wet end or applied to the wet web by spray. In this pilot-scale study, it was shown how strength additives can be effectively applied with foam-based application technology. The technology can simultaneously increase dryness after wet pressing and enhance dry and wet web strength properties. Foam application of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), guar gum, starch, and cellulose microfibrils (CMF) increased web dryness after wet pressing up to 5.2%-units compared to the reference sample. The enhanced dewatering with starch, guar gum, and CMF was detected with a bulk increase. Additionally, a significant increase in z-directional tensile strength of dry web and and in-plane tensile strength properties of wet web was obtained. Based on the results, foam application technology can be a very useful technology for several applications in the paper industry.



Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1103
Author(s):  
Sara Sarraj ◽  
Małgorzata Szymiczek ◽  
Tomasz Machoczek ◽  
Maciej Mrówka

Eco-friendly composites are proposed to substitute commonly available polymers. Currently, wood–plastic composites and natural fiber-reinforced composites are gaining growing recognition in the industry, being mostly on the thermoplastic matrix. However, little data are available about the possibility of producing biocomposites on a silicone matrix. This study focused on assessing selected organic fillers’ impact (ground coffee waste (GCW), walnut shell (WS), brewers’ spent grains (BSG), pistachio shell (PS), and chestnut (CH)) on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of silicone-based materials. Density, hardness, rebound resilience, and static tensile strength of the obtained composites were tested, as well as the effect of accelerated aging under artificial seawater conditions. The results revealed changes in the material’s properties (minimal density changes, hardness variation, overall decreasing resilience, and decreased tensile strength properties). The aging test revealed certain bioactivities of the obtained composites. The degree of material degradation was assessed on the basis of the strength characteristics and visual observation. The investigation carried out indicated the impact of the filler’s type, chemical composition, and grain size on the obtained materials’ properties and shed light on the possibility of acquiring ecological silicone-based materials.



Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128
Author(s):  
Sylwia Członka ◽  
Anna Strąkowska ◽  
Agnė Kairytė

In this study, coir fibers were successfully modified with henna (derived from the Lawsonia inermis plant) using a high-energy ball-milling process. In the next step, such developed filler was used as a reinforcing filler in the production of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams. The impact of 1, 2, and 5 wt % of coir-fiber filler on structural and physico-mechanical properties was evaluated. Among all modified series of PUR composites, the greatest improvement in physico-mechanical performances was observed for PUR composites reinforced with 1 wt % of the coir-fiber filler. For example, on the addition of 1 wt % of coir-fiber filler, the compression strength was improved by 23%, while the flexural strength increased by 9%. Similar dependence was observed in the case of dynamic-mechanical properties—on the addition of 1 wt % of the filler, the value of glass transition temperature increased from 149 °C to 178 °C, while the value of storage modulus increased by ~80%. It was found that PUR composites reinforced with coir-fiber filler were characterized by better mechanical performances after the UV-aging.



Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 300
Author(s):  
Md. Safiuddin ◽  
George Abdel-Sayed ◽  
Nataliya Hearn

This paper presents the water absorption and strength properties of short carbon fiber reinforced mortar (CFRM) composite. Four CFRM composites with 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% short pitch-based carbon fibers were produced in this study. Normal Portland cement mortar (NCPM) was also prepared for use as the control mortar. The freshly mixed mortar composites were tested for workability, wet density, and entrapped air content. In addition, the hardened mortar composites were examined for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and water absorption at the ages of 7 and 28 days. The effects of different carbon fiber contents on the tested properties were observed. Test results showed that the incorporation of carbon fibers decreased the workability and wet density, but increased the entrapped air content in mortar composite. Most interestingly, the compressive strength of CFRM composite increased up to 3% carbon fiber content and then it declined significantly for 4% fiber content, depending on the workability and compaction of the mortar. In contrast, the splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of the CFRM composite increased for all fiber contents due to the greater cracking resistance and improved bond strength of the carbon fibers in the mortar. The presence of short pitch-based carbon fibers significantly strengthened the mortar by bridging the microcracks, resisting the propagation of these minute cracks, and impeding the growth of macrocracks. Furthermore, the water absorption of CFRM composite decreased up to 3% carbon fiber content and then it increased substantially for 4% fiber content, depending on the entrapped air content of the mortar. The overall test results suggest that the mortar with 3% carbon fibers is the optimum CFRM composite based on the tested properties.



Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid Agureev ◽  
Valeriy Kostikov ◽  
Zhanna Eremeeva ◽  
Svetlana Savushkina ◽  
Boris Ivanov ◽  
...  

The article presents the study of alumina nanoparticles’ (nanofibers) concentration effect on the strength properties of pure nickel. The samples were obtained by spark plasma sintering of previously mechanically activated metal powders. The dependence of the grain size and the relative density of compacts on the number of nanofibers was investigated. It was found that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, the average size of the matrix particles decreased. The effects of the nanoparticle concentration (0.01–0.1 wt.%) on the elastic modulus and tensile strength were determined for materials at 25 °C, 400 °C, and 750 °C. It was shown that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, a 10–40% increase in the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength occurred. A comparison of the mechanical properties of nickel in a wide range of temperatures, obtained in this work with materials made by various technologies, is carried out. A description of nanofibers’ mechanisms of influence on the structure and mechanical properties of nickel is given. The possible impact of impurity phases on the properties of nickel is estimated. The tendency of changes in the mechanical properties of nickel, depending on the concentration of nanofibers, is shown.



2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
Md. Mahabubur Rahaman ◽  
◽  
Khurshid Akhter ◽  
S. Hossain ◽  
Md. Rakibul Islam ◽  
...  

The study was conducted to find out the suitability of making particleboard using nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) stem wood and rajkoroi (Albizia richardiana) wood chips. Particleboards were fabricated at six different ratios of nipa palm stem and rajkoroi wood chips such as 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 10:90 and 0:100. Characteristics of particleboards such as modulus of rupture, internal bond strength, water absorption, thickness swelling and moisture content were measured. Results shows that particleboards made from 100% rajkoroi wood chips have the highest static bending properties and highest tensile strength properties of other particleboards but 100% nipa palm stem wood chips have the lowest static bending and lowest tensile strength properties of other particleboards. 10% nipa palm stem wood chips particleboard have the highest bending strength and tensile strength is better than 100% nipa palm stem wood chips and other mixing chips of particleboards. Mechanical, water resistance and dimensional stability properties were tested according to Indian standard specification. Tensile strength passed the British and German standard specification and nearest to Bureau of Indian Standard, bending strength was found nearest to Indian Standard but lower than German and British Standard specification. Strength property of rajkoroi wood chips particleboard is higher than nipa palm steam wood chips particleboard but dimensional stability is lower than nipa palm steam wood chips particleboard.



Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Pszczola ◽  
Cezary Szydlowski

In regions with low-temperatures, action transverse cracks can appear in asphalt pavements as a result of thermal stresses that exceed the fracture strength of materials used in asphalt layers. To better understand thermal cracking phenomenon, strength properties of different asphalt mixtures were investigated. Four test methods were used to assess the influence of bitumen type and mixture composition on tensile strength properties of asphalt mixtures: tensile strength was measured using the thermal stress restrained specimen test (TSRST) and the uniaxial tension stress test (UTST), flexural strength was measured using the bending beam test (BBT), and fracture toughness was measured using the semi-circular bending test (SCB). The strength reserve behavior of tested asphalt mixtures was assessed as well. The influence of cooling rate on the strength reserve was investigated and correlations between results from different test methods were also analyzed and discussed. It was observed that the type of bitumen was a factor of crucial importance to low-temperature properties of the tested asphalt concretes. This conclusion was valid for all test methods that were used. It was also observed that the level of cooling rate influenced the strength reserve and, in consequence, resistance to low-temperature cracking. It was concluded that reasonably good correlations were observed between strength results for the UTST, BBT, and SCB test methods.



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