[pt] O desenvolvimento, caracterização mecânica e fluência de compósitos cimentícios têxteis reforçados com fibra de sisal foram realizados neste trabalho. Os compósitos foram fabricados utilizando uma matriz com baixo teor de hidróxido de cálcio, obtida pela substituição parcial do cimento por cinza volante e metacaulim. Foram desenvolvidos três tipos de compósitos, cada um com três ou cinco camadas de tecido unidirecional de sisal. Os compósitos com três camadas foram reforçados variando a condição das fibras em saturadas e com umidade natural. O comportamento mecânico foi avaliado por meio de ensaios de tração direta e flexão a quatro pontos. Estudaram-se os mecanismos de fissuração por meio de fotografias obtidas ao longo dos ensaios, além de análises por correlação digital de imagens - DIC. Todos os compósitos apresentaram comportamento strain/deflection hardening com formação de múltiplas fissuras. Ensaios de fluência à tração e à flexão foram realizados nos compósitos pré-fissurados a fim de estudar as respostas dependentes do tempo. As amostras reforçadas com fibras saturadas apresentaram deformações superiores na tração devido às propriedades da interface fibra-matriz e níveis de deflexão inferiores, além da diminuição da tensão máxima resistida e redução da capacidade de deflexão/deformação. A evolução das fissuras foi monitorada durante todo o ensaio de fluência com o auxílio de um microscópio estereoscópico. Para uma melhor compreensão do mecanismo de fluência dos compósitos, foram realizados ensaios de tração de uma única fibra sob carga sustentada. Além disso, ensaios de fluência à compressão e retração da matriz com diferentes níveis de substituição do cimento por metacaulim foram realizados para entender o seu efeito ao longo do tempo. / [en] In the present work, the development, mechanical characterization and creep of textile reinforced cementitious composites reinforced with sisal fiber were investigated. The composites were manufactured using a matrix with a low calcium hydroxide content, obtained by partially replacing the cement by fly ash and metakaolin. Three types of composites were developed, each with three or five layers of unidirectional sisal fabric. The composites with three layers were reinforced varying the condition of the fibers in saturated and with natural humidity. The mechanical behavior was evaluated through direct tension and four-point flexural tests. Cracking mechanisms were studied through photographs obtained during the tests, as well as analyzes by digital image correlation - DIC. All composites presented strain/deflection hardening behavior with formation of multiple cracks. Tensile and flexural creep tests were performed on pre-cracked composites in order to study time-dependent responses. The samples reinforced with saturated fibers showed higher strain in tension due to the properties of the fiber-matrix interface and lower deflection levels, in addition to the reduction of the ultimate stress and deflection/deformation capacity. The evolution of cracks was monitored throughout the creep test with a stereoscopic microscope. For a better understanding of creep mechanism of the composites, tensile tests of a single fiber were carried out under sustained load at different levels of loading. In addition, compression creep and shrinkage tests of the matrix with different levels of cement replacement with metakaolin were performed to understand its effect over time.

[pt] O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo do comportamento mecânico e de interface de compósitos cimentícios reforçados com tecido unidirecional de fibra de curauá. Os compósitos foram produzidos com matrizes constituídas de adições minerais pozolânicas distintas: sílica da casca de arroz, cinza do bagaço de cana e metacaulim. Realizou-se o tratamento superficial da fibra com impregnação de dois materiais abrasivos em adesivo époxi: óxido de alumínio e areia. As propriedades reológicas e mecânicas das matrizes, foram obtidas através de ensaios de consistência Flow table e resistência à compressão, respectivamente. Para a análise da reatividade das adições, realizaram-se ensaios de índice de atividade pozolânica, balizados em princípios químicos e mecânicos. A avaliação do desempenho mecânico e micro-estrutural dos compósitos foi feita por meio de ensaios de tração direta e flexão a quatro pontos. A morfologia e comportamento mecânico da fibra, mecanismos de interação fibra-matriz e características da zona de transição interfacial (ITZ) foram verificados mediante imagens de microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV), ensaios de pull-out e de tração direta do filamento e do tecido. Os resultados indicaram que é possível a produção de compósitos de alto desempenho com reforço de fibra natural. Em específico, o metacaulim viabilizou compósitos com as melhores performances mecânicas e características de interface, sendo a matriz selecionada para o reforço com as fibras tratadas. O tratamento da superfície mostrou-se eficaz no aumento da rigidez da fibra e, por consequência, do tecido. Além de melhorar a aderência fibra-matriz e torná-la hidrofóbica. No entanto, a alta aderência atingida conferiu aos compósitos a redução da ductilidade e tenacidade, juntamente com a melhoria da resistência à flexão. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se apresentar alternativas de tecnologias renováveis, de baixo custo e impacto ambiental, fatores chaves no desenvolvimento de materiais de construção civil, através do aprofundamento do estudo do reforço de fibra de curauá, e do desempenho de diferentes resíduos agroindustriais empregados na matriz, juntamente com os respectivos tratamentos superficiais na fibra. / [en] The present work presents a study on the mechanical and interfacial behavior of cementitious composites reinforced with unidirectional curauá fabric. The composites were produced with matrices made of distinct pozzolanic mineral additions: rice husk silica, sugarcane bagasse ash and metakaolin. The surface treatment of the fiber was carried out with impregnation of two abrasive materials in epoxy adhesive: aluminum oxide and sand. The rheological and mechanical properties of the matrices were obtained through tests of consistency, flow table, and compressive strength, respectively. For the reactivity’s analysis of the additions, pozzolanic activity index tests were performed, based on chemical and mechanical principles. The evaluation of the mechanical and microstructural performance of the composites was done by means of direct tensile tests and four-point bending. The morphology and mechanical behavior of the fiber, fiber-matrix interaction and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) characteristics were verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, pull-out and direct tensile tests of the filament and fabric. The results indicated that it is possible to produce high performance composites with natural fiber reinforcement. Specifically, the use of metakaolin resulted in composites with the best mechanical performances and interface characteristics, and the matrix was selected for the reinforcement with the treated fibers. The surface treatment proved to be effective in increasing fiber stiffness and, consequently, the fabric, in addition to improving fiber-matrix bond, rendered it a hydrophobic behavior. However, the high bond achieved gave the composites the reduction of ductility and toughness, along with the improvement of flexural strength. The objective of this study was to present alternatives to renewable technologies, low cost and environmental impact, key factors in the development of civil construction materials, through the deepening of the study of fiber reinforcement of curauá, and the performance of different agroindustrial residues used in together with the respective surface treatments on the fiber.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / 192 leaves on CD format, preliminary i-xii pages and numbered pages 1-135. Includes bibliography, list of figures and tables. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As a fibre reinforced material, engineered cementitious composite (ECC) has tough, strain-hardening behaviour in tension despite containing low volumes of fibres. This property can be brought about by developments in fibre, matrix and interfacial properties. Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibre has been developed in recent years for ECC, due to its high tensile strength and elasticity modulus. However, the strong interfacial bond between fibre surface and matrix is a challenge for its application. This study focuses on the tailoring of matrix and fibre/matrix interfacial properties by cement replacement with fly ash (FA) and Ground Granulated Corex Slagment (GGCS). In this study the direct tensile test, three point bending test, micro-scale analysis, such as X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry analysis (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), are employed to investigate the influence of cement replacement, aging, Water/Binder (W/B) ratio, workability on ECC behaviour. This study has successfully achieved the aim that cement replacement by FA and GGCS helps to improve the fibre/matrix interfacial properties and therefore enhances the ECC tensile behaviour. Specifically, a high volume FA-ECC has stable high tensile strain capacity at the age of 21 days. This enables a constant matrix design for the investigation of other matrix influences. The Slag-ECC has a higher tensile strength but lower tensile strain capacity. The combination of FA and GGCS, moderate tensile strength and strain capacity is achieved Both tensile tests and Micro-scale analyses infer that the high volume FA-ECC has an adhesive type fibre/matrix interfacial interaction, as opposed to the cohesive type of normal PVA fibre-ECC. The different tensile behaviour trend of steel fibre-ECC and PVA fibre-ECC with the FA content is presented and discussed in this research. The investigations of aging influence indicate that the high volume FA-ECC has a beneficial effect on the properties of the composite at an early stage. However, at a high age, it has some difficulty to undergo multiple cracking and then leads to the reduction of tensile strain capacity. The modified mix design is made with the combination of FA and GGCS, which successfully increases the interfacial bond and, thereby, improves the shear transfer to reach the matrix crack strength. Therefore, an improved high age tensile behaviour is achieved. The W/B and fresh state workability influence investigations show that the W/B can hardly affect the tensile strain at early age. However, the workability influences on composite tensile strain significantly, because of the influence on fibre dispersion. Other investigations with regard to the hybrid fibre influences, the comparison of bending behaviours between extruded plate and cast plate, the relation between bending MOR and tensile stress, and the relation between compression strength and tensile strength contribute to understand ECC behaviour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As ‘n veselversterkte materiaal, het ontwerpte sementbasis saamgestelde materiale, taai vervormingsverhardingseienskappe in trek, ten spyte van lae veselinhoud. Hierdie eienskap word bewerkstellig, deur ontwikkelings in vesel, matriks en tussenveselbindingseienskappe. Poli-Viniel Alkohol (PVA) vesels is ontwikkel vir ECC, as gevolg van die hoë trekkrag en hoë modulus van hierdie veseltipe. Die sterk binding tussen die PVA-veseloppervlak en die matriks is egter ‘n uitdaging vir sy toepassing. Hierdie studie fokus op die skep van gunstige matriks en vesel/matriks tussenvesel-bindingseienskappe deur sement te vervang met vlieg-as (FA) en slagment (GGCS).In hierdie navorsing is direkte trek-toetse, drie-punt-buigtoetse, mikro-skaal analise (soos die X-straal ‘Fluorescence Spectrometry’ analise (XRF) en Skanderende Elektron Mikroskoop (SEM))toegepas. Hierdie metodes is gebruik om die invloed van sementvervanging,veroudering, water/binder (W/B)-verhouding en werkbaarheid op die meganiese gedrag van ECC te ondersoek.Die resultate van hierdie navorsing toon dat sementvervanging deur FA en GGCS help om die vesel/matriks tussenveselbindingseienskappe te verbeter. Dus is die ECC-trekgedrag ook verbeter. Veral ‘n hoë volume FA-ECC het stabiele hoë trekvervormingskapasiteit op ‘n ouderdom van 21 dae. Dit bewerkstellig ‘n konstante matriksontwerp vir die navorsing van ander matriks invloede. Die Slag-ECC het ‘n hoër treksterkte, maar laer trekvervormingskapasiteit. Deur die kombinasie van FA en GGCS word hoë treksterkte, sowel as gematigde vervormbaarheid in trek verkry. Beide trektoetse en mikro-skaal analise dui aan dat die hoë volume FA-ECC ‘n adhesie-tipe vesel/matriks tussenvesel-bindingsinteraksie het, teenoor die ‘kohesie-tipe van normale PVA vesel-ECC. Die verskille in trekgedrag van staalvesel-ECC en PVA vesel-ECC ten opsigte van die FA-inhoud is ondersoek en word bespreek in die navorsing. Die navorsing toon verder dat die hoë volume FA-ECC goeie meganiese eienskappe het op ‘n vroeë ouderdom. Op hoër ouderdom word minder krake gevorm, wat ‘n verlaging in die trekvervormingskapasiteit tot gevolg het. Met die kombinasie van FA en GGCS, word die vesel-matriksverband verhoog, waardeur ‘n verbetering in die skuifoordrag tussen vesel en matriks plaasvind. Verbeterde hoë omeganiese gedrag word daardeur tot stand gebring. Navorsing ten opsigte van die invoed van die W/B en werkbaarheid dui daarop dat die W/B slegs geringe invloed het op die trekvormbaarheid, terwyl die werkbaarheid ‘n dominerende rol speel in hierdie verband.Verdere studies sluit in die invloed van verskillende vesels, die vergelyking van die buigingsgedrag van geëkstueerde plate en gegote plate, die verhouding tussen buigsterkte en treksterkte, en die verhouding tussen druksterkte en treksterkte dra by tot beter begrip van die gedrag van ECC.

[pt] A aplicação de compósitos cimentícios usando fibras vegetais, em substituição a fibras de asbestos, é uma realidade em indústrias de fibrocimento em vários países do mundo, pois, apesar das boas propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade, a utilização de asbestos acarreta problemas de insalubridade. Fibras vegetais, pela disponibilidade e adequação à preservação ambiental, apresentam vantagens sobre fibras sintéticas. O bambu é excelente fornecedor de fibras, pelo rápido crescimento, baixo custo e qualidade das fibras. Usando-se a polpa do vegetal, pode-se inserir maiores teores de fibras que, distribuídas aleatoriamente, conferem características isotrópicas ao compósito. Estudos são realizados, visando melhorar o desempenho dos compósitos com fibras vegetais. Retração e fluência se constituem em formas de deformação ao longo do tempo que podem comprometer o desempenho e reduzir a durabilidade do material. Tratando-se de materiais heterogêneos e sujeitos à presença de falhas, em diversos níveis, a aplicação da mecânica da fratura pode tornar-se valiosa ferramenta para projeto e controle da integridade desses compósitos, sendo a inibição da iniciação e propagação de trincas uma das principais funções do reforço de fibras curtas. Esse trabalho buscou analisar o comportamento de compósitos cimentícios reforçados com polpa de bambu, quanto à retração e à fluência, e obter parâmetros que descrevessem seu modo de fratura. Enquanto a capacidade de sofrer retração plástica foi reduzida, a retração livre na secagem cresceu com o aumento do teor de polpa de bambu no compósito, chegando a 40% de incremento para 14% de polpa, após um ano. Sob retração restringida, resultados mostraram melhor desempenho dos compósitos com fibras, pela ausência de fissuras detectáveis por fissurômetro, em relação à matriz sem reforço, que apresentou fissura em torno de 4 horas de exposição à secagem. Estudo da reversibilidade da retração mostrou que para os compósitos predominam as deformações de contração. Houve aumento da fluência sob compressão simples, com a inserção do reforço fibroso na mistura. Na fluência sob flexão, houve aumento da fluência específica na face comprimida com o aumento do teor de polpa na mistura. A fluência específica sob tração na flexão resultou maior para a matriz sem reforço do que para os compósitos com polpa de bambu. No estudo sobre mecânica da fratura, os corposde- prova entalhados de compósito com polpa apresentaram melhoria considerável no comportamento à flexão em relação à matriz sem reforço. Os compósitos com polpa mostraram-se menos sensíveis ao entalhe, com o incremento do teor de reforço fibroso. Observou-se considerável amolecimento (softening) precedendo a ruptura devido à propagação da trinca, nos compósitos. As curvas de resistência (curvas-R) permitiram identificar os valores de KIR que, nos compósitos, mostrou manter certa constância, com o aumento do comprimento da trinca. Nesse platô da curva, os valores médios para KIR foram de 1,88 MPa.m1/2 e 1,84 MPa.m1/2, respectivamente, para compósitos com 8% e 14% de polpa de bambu. Nos compósitos, os perfis dos caminhos trilhados pelas trincas no crescimento foram tortuosos, sendo o mecanismo de fratura mais intensamente dominado pela presença do entalhe inicial na matriz sem reforço que nos compósitos. / [en] The application of cimentitious composites using vegetal fibers in substitution of asbestos is a worldwide fact in the fiber cement industry. Despite their good mechanical properties and durability, the use of asbestos fibers causes well-known health hazards. Although vegetal fibers have relatively poor mechanical properties compared with synthetic fibers, they have other advantages such as low cost and low energy demand during manufacture. Bamboo is an excellent fiber supplier, due to its fast growth and the quality of its fibers. Using vegetal pulp it is possible to insert considerable amounts of fiber in a cement matrix, which randomly distributed confer isotropic characteristics to the composite. Studies are carried out aiming to improve the performance of composites with vegetal fibers. Shrinkage and creep are sorts of time depending deformation that may significantly reduce the durability and performance of the cement based composite. Cementitious composites are essentially heterogeneous materials subject to the presence of flaws at different levels due to the presence of many internal microcraks in the material prior to loading. Therefore, the application of fracture mechanics could become a suitable tool for the design and control of the integrity of these composites, since the inhibition of crack initiation and propagation is one of the main functions of the short fiber reinforcement. This work sought to analyze the behavior of cimentitious composites reinforced with bamboo pulp under shrinkage and creep and to provide sufficient fracture parameters to describe the failure mode of the material. The results show that, whereas the plastic shrinkage reduces, the free drying shrinkage increases proportionally to bamboo pulp content in the composite, reaching a 40% increment for a 14% pulp content, after one year. Under restrained shrinkage, the composite with bamboo pulp presents better performance than unreinforced matrix. Namely, under same boundary conditions, while the unreinforced matrix presents cracks after about four hours, the composites present no cracks visible through a 10x magnifying glass, even after forty five days of drying. Study of the shrinkage reversibility of the composite showed that there is contraction deformation prevalence. Under simple compression, the creep capacity of the bamboo pulp composites increases proportionally with the fiber content. Under bending stress, there was an increase of the specific creep in the compressed face of the specimen, as the pulp content of the mixture increases. The specific creep under bending tension for the tensile face was greater for the unreinforced matrix than in the bamboo pulp composites. As revealed through the assessment of fracture behavior of composites with bamboo pulp, notched specimens presented a considerable improvement in bending behavior when compared to the unreinforced matrix. The composites with pulp became less sensible to the notch with the increment of pulp content. In the bamboo pulp composites, considerable softening was observed in the load-displacement curve, as load gradually decreases after the peak load and before the rupture due to crack propagation. Using resistance curves (R-curves) it was possible to identify the KIR values that, for the composites, kept certain constancy as the crack length increased. At this plateau of the curve, the average values for KIR reached 1,88 MPa.m1/2 and 1,84 MPa.m1/2 for composites with bamboo pulp content of 8% and 14% respectively. In the composites, crack profiles and crack surfaces were tortuous, while in the unreinforced matrix the fracture mechanisms were more intensely dominated by the presence of the initial notch.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Civil Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Hybride Oberflächenaktivierungen von Glasfaserrovings mittels Polymer/Zement-Kompositen ermöglichen eine komplette Durchdringung des Rovings mit Beton von der Matrix bis zu den innenliegenden Einzelfilamenten. Dies erlaubt einen deutlich verbesserten Lasteintrag in den gesamten Rovingquerschnitt bei der Verwendung als Faserverstärkung in textilbewehrten Betonen. Auf Grund von ausgeprägten Domänen hydratisierter Zementsteinphasen innerhalb des Rovings ergibt sich eine komplexe, multiskalige Verbundstruktur, die sich in ihren Eigenschaften deutlich von klassischen polymerbeschichteten Rovings unterscheidet. Wir diskutieren diesen Ansatz in Bezug auf Herstellung, nano-/mikroskopische Charakterisierung, sowie der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Probenkörper unter beschleunigten Alterungsbedingungen. Die mikroskopischen Untersuchungen mittels höchstauflösender Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoindentation zielen darauf ab, die Grenzflächenanbindung, die veränderte Struktur in Abhängigkeit des verwendeten Polymers und der Additive sowie die Korrosionsmechanismen aufzuklären. / Hybrid surface modifications of glass fiber rovings with polymer/cement-composites allow the generation of extended cement phases within the roving and an activation of the innermost filaments to the surrounding concrete matrix. This enables enhanced load transfer across the full roving cross section when used as fibrous reinforcement in textile-reinforced concrete. Due to the presence of extended concrete domains within the roving, a complex multiscale composite structure develops, displaying distinctly different properties as compared to standard polymer impregnation routes. We discuss this approach in terms of production, nano/microscopic characterization of the concrete composites and mechanical properties of the resulting specimens under accelerated aging conditions. The microscopy studies using highest resolution electron microscopy and nanoindentation aim to elucidate the interface connection, the changes in morphology of the concrete as a function of the polymer and additives used, as well as shedding light on the corrosion mechanisms.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoASJ_TESE.pdf: 8792658 bytes, checksum: 82015e9b1bc788b7c608317086cdc276 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-30 / Researches have shown that the introduction of rubber in concrete improves the features of its deformability, as well as contributes to environmental disposal of waste generated in the tire retreading process. Furthermore, there is a high availability of limestone within RN and CE country. Ignorance about this stone, does not allow its wide use as aggregate, leaving, this abundant supply idle. A composite of limestone gravel, with proportions of tire rubber waste which could be used as concrete would be an alternative to concrete for low applications. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the characteristics of concrete containing limestone gravel and proportions of little aggregate replacement (sand) by tire rubber waste. To this goal, the material components of the concrete were characterized, concrete specimens with limestone gravel were made, from the dash 1.0: 2.5: 3.5, varying the water/cement ratio, and inserting a commercial plasticizer, without a proportion of residue, known as reference. From this, concrete with and without the presence of the additive in the same proportions were chosen, as well as these with the use of granite gravel, for being the most used. Selected the references, to these, replacements of little aggregate (sand) were added replaced by rubber waste from the tire retreading process, treated with 1M NaOH in proportions from 5.0 to 20.0 % by mass, cured and exposed to the semiarid environment. The results indicate the possibility of using limestone gravel in the concrete composition with workability correction using plasticizer. There was a decrease in the mechanical properties of the concrete with increments of waste rubber, but there is an improvement in toughness and deformability of the composite, which makes it interesting for the construction of non-structural concrete floors, as well as, the rubber waste delayed the hardening process, continuing to gain resistance after 28 days / Pesquisas t?m mostrado que a introdu??o de borracha no concreto melhoram as caracter?sticas de deformabilidade deste, assim como, contribuem para destina??o ambiental de res?duos gerados no processo de recauchutagem de pneus. Somado a isto, existe uma alta disponibilidade de rocha calc?ria no interior do RN e do CE. O n?o conhecimento desta pedra, n?o possibilita sua ampla utiliza??o como agregado, deixando, esta farta oferta ociosa. Um comp?sito de brita do tipo calc?ria, com propor??es de res?duo de borracha de pneu que pudesse ser utilizado como concreto seria uma alternativa para concretos destinados a baixas solicita??es. Logo, este trabalho possui como objetivo a avalia??o das carater?sticas de concretos contendo brita calc?ria e propor??es de substitui??o do agregado mi?do (areia) por res?duo de borracha de pneus. Para tanto, caracterizou-se os materiais componentes do concreto, confeccionou-se corpos de prova de concretos com brita calc?ria, a partir do tra?o 1,0: 2,5: 3,5, variando-se a rela??o ?gua/cimento, e inserindo-se um plastificante comercial, sem a propor??o de res?duo, chamados de refer?ncia. A partir deste, foram escolhidos nas mesmas propor??es concretos com e sem a presen?a do aditivo, assim como, estes com a utiliza??o da brita gran?tica, por ser a mais utilizada. Escolhidas as refer?ncias, a estas foram acrescidas substitui??es de parte do agregado mi?do (areia) por res?duo de borracha de pneu proveniente do processo de recauchutagem, tratados com NaOH 1 M, nas propor??es de 5,0 a 20,0 % em massa, curados e expostos ao ambiente semi?rido. Os resultados indicam a possibilidade de utiliza??o da brita calc?ria na composi??o do concreto com corre??o da trabalhabilidade utilizando-se plastificante. Observou-se uma diminui??o nas propriedades mec?nicas dos concretos com incrementos de res?duo de borracha, por?m existe uma melhora de tenacidade, e deformabilidade do comp?sito, o que o torna interessante para a constru??o de pisos de concretos n?o estruturais, assim como, o res?duo retardou o processo de endurecimento, continuando o concreto a ganhar resist?ncia, ap?s os 28 dias

[pt] A busca por materiais alternativos que possam substituir as fibras de amianto, compondo o fibro-cimento, tem-se tornado objeto de estudos recorrentes. As fibras vegetais surgem como opção econômica, salubre e ecologicamente adequada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento da adição da fibra de curauá em compósitos cimentícios, visando substituir o amianto. Essa fibra mineral é bastante conhecida pelos danos que provoca à saúde humana, já tendo sido banida em muitos países industrializados. Desde 1979, o Grupo de Pesquisas em Materiais não Convencionais da PUC-Rio tem desenvolvido trabalhos sobre a aplicação das fibras vegetais, disponíveis em abundância no Brasil, na fabricação de componentes para a construção civil, visando, principalmente, a produção de habitação popular. A fibra de curauá é de uso popular, na região conhecida como Baixo- Amazonas, oeste do Estado do Pará, na manufatura de cordas, cestas e tapetes, já existindo os primeiros plantios em escala comercial. Pouco conhecida nas demais regiões do país, a fibra de curauá ainda carece de estudos específicos sobre suas propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas, que possibilitem sua aplicação segura em compósitos para a construção civil. Nesse trabalho, foram estudadas as propriedades físicas, mecânicas e microestruturas das fibras de curauá, bem como de compósitos cimentícios que as tiveram como reforço. Buscou-se comparar o desempenho das fibras de curauá e de seus compósitos, com as fibras e compósitos de amianto e de outras fibras vegetais, tais como sisal, coco e juta. Os dados das fibras de sisal e coco, tomados para efeito de comparação, foram oriundos de trabalhos anteriores do mesmo grupo de pesquisas da PUC-Rio. Para as fibras de juta e compósitos cimentícios com reforço de juta e de sisal, foram obtidos dados através de ensaios realizados no escopo desse trabalho. Os resultados mostraram que a fibra de curauá possui características físicas e mecânicas que as habilitam à aplicação como reforço de matrizes cimentícias, principalmente quando for almejada uma maior ductilidade e capacidade de resistência após a fissuração da matriz. / [en] In recent years, there has been an intense search worldwide for an alternative material, which can substitute the asbestos fibre, a component of the asbestos cement, which has been found to be hazardous to human and animal health and has been banned already in many countries. Since 1979 the Non- conventional Materials Research Group of PUC-Rio has carried out works on the application of vegetable fibres, available in abundance in Brazil, for the fabrication of construction components, aiming mainly at the fabrication of popular housing. The curaúa fibre has been studied as it is already of popular use in the manufacturing of ropes, baskets and carpets in the region, known as Baixo Amazonas, in the state of Para, where the first plantations have been organized on a commercial scale. In this work, the physical, mechanical and micro-structural properties of the curauá fibres, as well as their application as a cimenticious matrix reinforcement, have been studied. The performance of curauá fibres and its composites was compared with other vegetable fibres, such as sisal, coconut and jute, as a substitute for asbestos fibres and its composites. The data on sisal and coconut fibres from previous works by the same research group at PUC-Rio was considered for comparison. The behaviour of jute fibres, as well as cimenticious composites, reinforced with jute and sisal fibres, have also been studied in this work. The results have shown that the curauá fibre has good physical and mechanical characteristics that make it suitable to be used as reinforcement of cimenticious matrices, with a high ductility and post-cracking resistance capacity.

[pt] O objetivo do presente estudo consistiu na obtenção, caracterização mecânica e química das fibras de bucha vegetal (Luffa cylindrica) utilizadas, e o emprego das mesmas como possível reforço de compósitos cimentícios. Inicialmente, as fibras de bucha foram encaminhadas à prensa mecânica para perder o seu formato cilíndrico, propiciando uma moldagem mais facilitada, dos posteriores compósitos. A partir daí, foram submetidas a ensaio de tração direta, dividindo-se entre filamento e tecido, difração de raios-x (DRX), espectroscopia de infravermelho (IV), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise em microscópio digital, com posterior análise em software digital. A matriz foi dosada, respeitando uma substituição parcial de 50 porcento de cimento, por materiais pozolânicos, como 40 porcento de metacaulinita e 10 porcento de cinza volante, com o objetivo de diminuir a quantidade de Hidróxido de Cálcio (HC), produto oriundo da hidratação do cimento. Também foi utilizado superplasticante na confecção da pasta, para melhorar a fluidez e assegurar que toda a área do molde fosse preenchida, além de prover o encharcamento uniforme da fibra. A caracterização química matriz se deu através do ensaio de termogravimetria (TGA), o qual foi capaz de corroborar a baixa presença de HC, propiciando a incorporação de fibras vegetais nessa matriz. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas a partir de ensaio de flow tabe, de resistência à compressão e à flexão. O composto com a matriz supracitada foi confeccionado com as fibras de bucha vegetal nas direções do carregamento e posteriormente encaminhados ao ensaio de flexão de três pontos. Para agregar valor à discussão, foi fabricado um compósito sanduíche com a fibra de sisal (Agave sisalana) em conjunto com a fibra de bucha. Os compósitos cimentícios reforçados por fibra de bucha, e o compósito sanduíche apresentaram valores de resistência 33 porcento maiores, em relação aos corpos de prova moldados apenas com a matriz (sem reforço). / [en] The objective of this study was to obtain, mechanical and chemical fibre characterization of Loofah (Luffa cylindrica) used, and the use of same as possible reinforcement of cementitious composites. Initially, Loofah fibres were forwarded to the mechanical press for losing your cylindrical format, providing a more facilitated, molding of composite posterior. From there, were subjected to direct tensile test, dividing her time between filament and fabric, x-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microscope analysis Digital, with further analysis in digital software. The array was dosed, respecting a partial substitution of 50 per cent cement, Pozzolanic materials, such as 40 per cent metacaulinite and 10 per cent fly ash, with the goal of reducing the amount of calcium hydroxide (CH), native of cement hydration product. Superplasticizer was also used in the making of the folder, to improve the fluidity and ensure that the entire area of the mold were filled equally, in addition to providing the drenching fiber uniform. Chemical characterization through array of Thermogravimetry (TGA), which was able to corroborate the low presence of CH, resulting in the incorporation of vegetable fibers in this array. The mechanical properties were evaluated from flow tabe test, compression and flexural strenght. The compound with the above-mentioned matrix was made with Loofah fibres in the directions of loading and subsequently forwarded to the three-point flexural test. To add value to the discussion, made a sandwich composite with sisal fiber (Agave sisalana) in conjunction with the Loofah fiber. The cementitious composites reinforced by loofah fiber, and sandwich composite presented values of maximum 33 per cent larger in relation to specimens only molded array (no reinforcement), although it is not an improvement as significant as found in other synthetic or natural fibers, already studied and some in use by industry.

Hybride Oberflächenaktivierungen von Glasfaserrovings mittels Polymer/Zement-Kompositen ermöglichen eine komplette Durchdringung des Rovings mit Beton von der Matrix bis zu den innenliegenden Einzelfilamenten. Dies erlaubt einen deutlich verbesserten Lasteintrag in den gesamten Rovingquerschnitt bei der Verwendung als Faserverstärkung in textilbewehrten Betonen. Auf Grund von ausgeprägten Domänen hydratisierter Zementsteinphasen innerhalb des Rovings ergibt sich eine komplexe, multiskalige Verbundstruktur, die sich in ihren Eigenschaften deutlich von klassischen polymerbeschichteten Rovings unterscheidet. Wir diskutieren diesen Ansatz in Bezug auf Herstellung, nano-/mikroskopische Charakterisierung, sowie der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Probenkörper unter beschleunigten Alterungsbedingungen. Die mikroskopischen Untersuchungen mittels höchstauflösender Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoindentation zielen darauf ab, die Grenzflächenanbindung, die veränderte Struktur in Abhängigkeit des verwendeten Polymers und der Additive sowie die Korrosionsmechanismen aufzuklären. / Hybrid surface modifications of glass fiber rovings with polymer/cement-composites allow the generation of extended cement phases within the roving and an activation of the innermost filaments to the surrounding concrete matrix. This enables enhanced load transfer across the full roving cross section when used as fibrous reinforcement in textile-reinforced concrete. Due to the presence of extended concrete domains within the roving, a complex multiscale composite structure develops, displaying distinctly different properties as compared to standard polymer impregnation routes. We discuss this approach in terms of production, nano/microscopic characterization of the concrete composites and mechanical properties of the resulting specimens under accelerated aging conditions. The microscopy studies using highest resolution electron microscopy and nanoindentation aim to elucidate the interface connection, the changes in morphology of the concrete as a function of the polymer and additives used, as well as shedding light on the corrosion mechanisms.