Piassava Fiber: A Novel Reinforcement for Cement-Based Matrix Composites

The addition of 2 and 5 wt% of piassava fiber, a natural lignocellulosic fiber extracted from a Brazilian palm tree botanically named Attallea funifera, into cement-based matrix composites was investigated. Both alkali-treated piassava fibers by NaOH and non-treated fibers were embedded in Portland cement, lime, and sand to fabricate mortars intended for civil construction. The non-aged fresh mortars were tested for paste consistency, water retention, and relative volume of incorporated air. Preliminary results showed that the addition of NaOH-treated piassava slightly increased the water retention while decreasing the incorporated air content. Together with these preliminary results, the comparatively low density of the piassava fiber allows the fabrication of novel cement-based composite with the potential to be used as mortar in building construction.