Influence of caustic soda treatment on mechanical performance of 'cocos nucifera linn' fiber reinforced lightweight foam mortar

Abstract

With regards to environmental concerns and in line with Malaysia government environmental strategy on utilizing sustainable waste materials such as those from natural resources in turn to diminish the harmful effect of synthetic materials on the environment, it has brought a challenge to reconnoiter how it can be attained by promoting the agricultural wastes into useful products. Natural fibers are renewable, cost-effective, low in density, eco-friendly, non-abrasive and readily obtainable anywhere. Hence this research attempts to investigate the potential use of cocos nucifera linn fiber as reinforcement material in foam mortar. The effect of fiber treatment via caustic soda on mechanical properties of cocos nucifera fiber reinforced foam mortar was examined. The test results indicate that cocos nucifera linn fiber had a much cleaner and rougher fiber surface after the treatment through caustic soda. Compared with the untreated cocos nucifera linn fiber, treatment improved the compressive, flexural and splitting tensile properties of the foam mortar. However, the treatment also reduced the damping ratio of the foam concrete. The increase in compressive, flexural and splitting tensile properties and reduction in damping ratio are attributed to the improvement of fiber and matrix interfacial adhesion due to the caustic soda treatment. As a whole, 4.5% wt. caustic soda solution treatment of cocos nucifera linn fibers contributed to excellent compressive strength, bending strength and splitting tensile strength results compared to other chemical solution percentages.