Durability of Sisal Fibers Reinforced Cement-based Plates

Sustainable materials have been gaining increasing attention in the construction sector due to their environmental advantages and the need for cost-effective solutions. An example of this is vegetable fibers, which are recognized as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the reinforcement of cementitious composites in civil engineering applications. To contribute to our knowledge about the durability of these materials, this study investigated the mechanical behavior of cementitious plates reinforced with 5% long aligned sisal fibers materials after being subjected to accelerated aging. To improve the durability of the composite, 50% of the cement in matrix was replaced by 40% metakaolin and 10% fly ash, to avoid fiber degradation by alkaline attack. Two accelerated aging methods were carried out according to the NBR15498 guidelines: (1) hot water immersion and (2) immersion-drying cycles; and compared with the reference samples. Flexural tensile tests were performed after the aging. The average strength of the reference samples was 16.03 ± 1.50 MPa, while the samples subjected to hot water immersion was 17.19 ± 1.93 MPa. The average tensile strength of the samples subjected to accelerated aging through immersion-drying cycles and the reference samples was 18.48 ± 2.56 MPa and 17.82 ± 1.45 MPa, respectively. The results showed that the material preserves its performance after both accelerated aging methods in comparison to reference samples.