Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Pultruded Jute/Polymeric Matrix Fabric

Abstract

Substantial progress on developing fiber reinforced cement-based composites has been made recently. Fiber Cement Sheets (FCS) are particularly suitable for the use behind tiling in wet areas, considerable use as backer boards for counter tops, wet area internal lining boards. The present work investigates the pultrusion of a jute fabrics reinforced by Polymeric matrix material (Concresive 1315 M) which has excellent resistance to most aqueous substances and liquids, including sea water, brackish water, effluent and raw sewage, acids of low concentration, alkalis, oils (mineral and organic), thus protects the jute fabrics improving durability of fiber cement sheets (FCS). Enhance the adhesion between the natural fibers and cementation composite results in the improving of composite’s strength and toughness as well as the flexure strength and bending stiffness. In this study, the influence of a fabric treatment of the textiles to reinforce cement materials as well as fabric structure and the resin properties has been investigated. For the hybrid jute fabric reinforced cementitious composites, the integrated performance, mechanical properties, particularly bending stiffness and cracking response, were evidently influenced by the fabric structure and the resin properties. The mechanical properties were evaluated by performing 4-points bending as well as tensile tests. Pultrusion jute reinforced Polymeric matrix material increases the tensile strength, Modulus of elasticity, and the Modulus of rigidity and reduces the breaking elongation. Flexural strength of fiber cement sheets (FCS) has been significantly improved using pultrusion of the Jute/Polymeric Matrix Fabric. It is observed that bonding between cement and jute fabric after pultrusion is excellent and no sign of delamination is noted. These changes in the fabric properties made it more suitable to be used in the production of the cementitious thin sheets.