A Systematic Literature Review on Factors Affecting the Compatibility of Natural Fibre as Cement Board Reinforcement

The compatibility of natural fibres in cement composite is a significant concern, primarily due to their inherent incompatibility with the cement matrix. Fibre's intrinsic extractive presence cannot be used solely as a primary material for cement board (CB). Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the main factors that affect the compatibility between natural fibre and CB products. The review processes were based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and were conducted through identification, screening, eligibility, and data extraction procedures. From an intensive literature review, the compatibility of natural fibre with cement was determined to be primarily influenced by its chemical composition. As such, this aspect must be thoroughly examined before producing fibre-cementitious composites due to the varying chemical arrangement of the chemical composition of natural fibres, ranging from cellulose content (22-79.3%), followed by hemicellulose (6.9-48%) and lignin (2.44-29%). Previous studies have revealed that cellulose is the primary structural component of cell walls. The elevated cellulose content in processed fibre mainly influences its strength. This is accomplished by employing treated fibres that eliminate contaminants, leading to void circular cavities or increased pore dimensions. Notably, the approach elevates the cellulose content, diminishes the fibre diameter, augments the tensile strength, and concurrently improves the performance of the CB. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test demonstrated a significant P-value of less than 0.05 (P < 0.05), suggesting that the increase in cellulose content significantly affects the tensile strength of the fibre. Therefore, this study reveals the importance of cellulose content and its impact on the performance of CB. Thus, it can be concluded that natural fibre possesses considerable potential as a sustainable material for CB composite reinforcement.