Vegetable Fibre Reinforced Concrete Composites: A Review

F. Pacheco Torgal1, a, Said Jalali2,b

1
C-TAC Research Unit, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
2
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
a
[email protected], [email protected]

Keywords: Reinforced concrete; vegetable; fibres; properties; durability

Abstract. The current manuscript deals with the subject of natural fiber reinforced concrete. It
includes fiber characteristics, properties and the description of the treatments that improve their
performance; it covers the compatibility between the fibers and the cement matrix and also how
their presence influences cement properties like setting time or the interfacial transition zone. It also
includes the properties and durability performance of concrete reinforced with natural fibers. Future
research trends are also presented.

Introduction
Regular concrete is a brittle material which possesses a high compressive strength but on the other
side has a low tensile strength. The combined use of regular concrete and steel reinforcing bars was
able to overcome that disadvantage leading to a material with good compressive and tensile
strengths but also with a long post-crack deformation (strain softening). Unfortunately reinforced
concrete has a high permeability that allows water and other aggressive elements to enter, leading to
carbonation and chloride ion attack resulting in corrosion problems. Steel rebar corrosion is in fact
the main reason for infrastructure deterioration.
Gjorv mentioned a study of Norway OPC bridges indicating that 25 % of those built after 1970
presented corrosion problems [1]. Another author mentioned that 40% of the 600.000 bridges in the
U.S. were affected by corrosion problems being estimated in 50 billion dollars the cost of the
repairing operations [2]. Since world population is expected to grow more 2000 millions until the
year 2030, much more reinforced concrete structures will be built and much more deterioration
problems are expected to take place. Concrete durability is environmental related. Because if we
were able to increase the life time of a concrete from 50 to 500 years, its environmental impact
decreases 10 times [3].
On the other hand, reinforced steel is a high cost material, has high energy consumption and
comes from non renewable resource. Natural fibers are a renewable resource and are available
almost all over the world [4]. Therefore to promote the use of concrete reinforced with vegetable
fibers could be a way to improve concrete durability and also sustainable construction. This chapter
deals with the subject of natural fiber reinforced concrete. It includes fiber characteristics,
properties and the description of the treatments that improve their performance; it covers the
compatibility between the fibers and the cement matrix and also how their presence influences
cement properties. It also includes the properties and durability performance of concrete reinforced
with natural fibers.

Fibre characteristics and properties

Vegetable fibers are natural composites with a cellular structure. Different proportions of cellulose,
hemicellulose and lignin constitute the different layers. Cellulose is a polymer containing glucose
units. Hemicellulose is a polymer made of various polysaccharides. As for lignin it is an amorphous
and heterogeneous mixture of aromatic polymers and phenylpropane monomers [5]. Although
natural fibres possess a high tensile strength they have low modulus of elasticity (Table 1).
 Table 1 - Properties of vegetable fibers [6]
Tensile Modulus of
Properties Specific gravity Water absorption strength elasticity
[Kg/m3] [%] [MPa] [GPa]
Sisal 1370 110 347-378 15,2
Coconut 1177 93,8 95-118 2,8
Bamboo 1158 145 73-505 10-40
Hemp 1500 85-105 900 34
Caesarweed 1409 182 300-500 10-40
Banana 1031 407 384 20-51
Piassava palm 1054 34-108 143 5,6
Date palm [7] 1300-1450 60-84 70-170 2,5-4

One of the disadvantages of using natural fibers is that they have a high variation on their properties
which could lead to unpredictable concrete properties [8,9]. Pre-treatment of natural fibers was
found to increase concrete performance. Pulping is one of the fibre treatments that improve fiber
adhesion to the cement matrix and also resistance to alkaline attack [10]. Pulping can be obtained
by a chemical way (kraft) or a mechanical way. The latter have a lower cost (around half) and needs
not effluent treatments [11].

Matrix characteristics
Savastano [12] mentioned that acid compounds released from natural fibres reduce setting time of
cement matrix. Some authors reported that fiber sugar components, hemicellulose and lignin can
contribute to prevent cement hydration [13, 14]. According to Sedan et al. (2008), fiber inclusion
can reduce the delay of setting by 45 minutes. The explanation relies on the fact that pectin (a fiber
component) can fix calcium preventing the formation of CSH structures.
Somme authors argue that the interfacial transition zone between concrete and natural fibers is
porous, cracked and rich in calcium hydroxide crystal [15]. They reported a 200 μm thick at 180
days. Figure 1 shows a concrete sample were fiber imprints are visible as an example for low
adhesion between cement matrix and natural fibers.

Figure 1 – Imprints of fiber reinforcement

On the contrary others reported that using vacuum dewatering and high pressure applied after
molding lead to a dense ITZ [16]. The use of water-repellents also lead to a good bond between
natural fibers and concrete [17]. The mechanical treatment of the fibers also improve the bonding
between the fibre and cement [18]. According to some authors, alkaline treatment of fibers improve
their strength and also fibre-matrix adhesion [19].

Properties
Filho et al. [20] found out that the use of 0,2% volume fraction of 25mm sisal fibres leads to free
plastic shrinkage reduction. The combined use of coconut and sisal short fibers seem to delayed
restrained plastic shrinkage controlling crack development at early ages.
As for the mechanical performance of natural fiber concrete Al-Oraimi & Seibi [21] reported
that using a low percentage of natural fibres improved the mechanical properties and the impact
resistance of concrete and had similar performance when compared to synthetic fibre concrete.
Khare [22] tested several concrete beams and reported that bamboo has potential to be used as
substitute for steel reinforcement (Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Bamboo reinforcement before and after placement in wood formwork

Other authors reported that fiber inclusion increases impact resistance 3-18 times higher than when
no fibers were used [23]. Reis [24] studies show that mechanical performance of fiber concrete
depends on the typo of fiber. Being that coconut and sugar cane bagasse fiber increases concrete
fracture toughness but banana pseudostem fiber does not. The use of coconut fibers shows even
better flexural than synthetic fiber (glass and carbon) concrete.
Silva et al. [25] studied the addition of sisal fibers to concrete and reported that compressive
strength was lower than concrete samples without the fibers. The explanation for that behaviour
seems to be related to concrete workability.
Durability
Durability of vegetable fiber reinforced concrete is related to the ability to resist both external
(temperature and humidity variations, sulfate or chloride attack etc) and internal damage
(compatibility between fibers and cement matrix, volumetric changes etc).
The degradation of natural fibers immersed in portland cement is due to the high alkaline
environment which dissolves the lignin and hemicellulose phases thus weakening the fiber structure
[25]. Gram was the first author to study the durability of sisal and coir fiber reinforced concrete.
The fiber degradation was evaluated by exposing them to alkaline solutions and then measuring the
variations in tensile strength. This author reported a deleterious effect of Ca2+ elements on fiber
degradation. He also stated that fibers were able to preserve their flexibility and strength in areas
with carbonated concrete with a pH of 9 or less.
Filho et al [27] also investigated the durability of sisal and coconut fibers when immersed in
alkaline solutions. Sisal and coconut fibers conditioned in a sodium hydroxide solution retained
respectively 72,7% and 60,9% of their initial strength after 420 days. As for the immersion of the
fibers in a calcium hydroxide solution, it was noticed that original strength was completely lost after
300 days. According to those authors the explanation for the higher attack by Ca(OH)2 can be
related to a crystallization of lime in the fibers pores.
Ramakrishna & Sundararajan [28] also reported degradation of natural fiber when exposed to
alkaline medium. Other authors studied date palm reinforced concrete reporting low durability
performance which is related to fiber degradation when immersed in alkaline solutions [29].
Ghavami [30] reported the case of a bamboo reinforced concrete beam with 15 years old and
without deterioration signs. Lima et al. [31] studied the variations of tensile strength and Young´s
modulus of bamboo fiber reinforced concrete expose to wetting and drying cycles, reporting
insignificant changes, thus confirming its durability.
The capacity of natural fibers to absorb water is another path to decrease the durability of fiber
reinforced concrete. Water absorption leads to volume changes that can induce concrete cracks [31,
32]. In order to improve the durability of fiber reinforced concrete the two following paths could be
used:

a) Matrix modification.
Using low alkaline concrete adding pozzolanic by-products such as rice husk ash, blast furnace slag,
or fly ashes to portland cement [32 -34]
Results show that the use of ternary blends containing slag/metakaolin and silica fume are
effective in preventing degradation [35]. But in some cases the low alkalinity is not enough to
prevent lignin from being decomposed [5]. Other authors reported that fast carbonation can induce
lower alkalinity [32].

b) Fiber modification.
Coating natural fibers to avoid water absorption and free alkalis. Use water repellent agents or fibre
impregnation with sodium silicate, sodium sulphite, or magnesium sulphate. Ghavami [17] reported
the use of a water-repellent in bamboo fibers allowed only 4% water absorption.
The use of organic compounds like vegetable oils reduced the embrittlement process, but not
completely [36]. Recent findings report that silane coating of fibers is a good way to improve the
durability of natural fiber reinforced concrete [37]. Other authors mentioned that using pulped fibers
can improve durability performance [38]. Some even reported that fiber extraction process can
prevent durability reductions [39].

Future research trends

Further investigations about natural reinforced concrete are needed in order to clarify several
aspects that current knowledge does not.
 The available literature data is mostly related to the mechanical behaviour of natural fibre
reinforced concrete. For instance only recently has the delaying effect of fibre inclusion received
the proper attention. Since the main reason for fibre degradation relates to alkaline degradation,
much more research is needed about the chemical interactions between the cement matrix and the
natural fibers.
The right treatments to improve fiber and cement matrix compatibility are still to be found. The
same could be said about the variation on fiber properties thus control quality methods are needed
in order to ensure minimal variations on the properties of natural fibers. Durability related issues
also deserve more research efforts.

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