Concreto polimérico reforzado con fibras de luffa

Abstract

A polymer concrete was prepared adding luffa fiber with the aim of improving compressive and flexural strength as well as elasticity. Polymer concrete specimens were prepared with unsaturated polyester resin with 30 % in volume being the remaining 70% siliceous sand and luffa fibers at several concentrations (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 vol%). Specimens without fibers were evaluated and gamma irradiating. The evaluation of the mechanical resistance to compression and flexion of the specimens were done in a universal testing machine while elasticity modulus was determined with ultrasound equipment. After the mechanical tests the luffa fiber areas were analyzed using a scanning electronic microscopy. The results show that compressive strength, flexural strength and elasticity decrease their values for the specimens with fibers. The properties improved for the irradiated specimens.