Influence of wrightia tinctoria and coconut fibers on strength and microstructural properties of geopolymer composites

Geopolymers reveal similarities with Portland cement concrete but excel in high-temperature, high-corrosion environments. However, they face challenges like shrinkage and brittleness, limiting their use. Fiber reinforcement is commonly used to address brittleness while preserving strength in geopolymer systems, but comprehensive studies on integrating natural fibers are still lacking. This paper examines the effects of Wrightia Tinctoria Seed Fibers (WTSFs) and coconut coir fibers (CCF) on the mechanical properties of geopolymer composites at ambient temperature. Adding 2% WTSFs improved both mechanical and microstructural properties. The 28-day flexural strength increased by 36.55% with CCF and 59.65% with WTSFs compared to fiber-free composites.