Influence of the Length and the Content of Cellulose Fibers Obtained from Sugarcane Bagasse on the Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Mortar Composites

Asbestos fiber can be substituted by cellulose fiber extracted from the sugarcane bagasse. The cellulose fibers can be extracted by using a heated water bath and subsequent treatment with sodium hydroxide. This work aims to evaluate the effect of cellulose fiber addition on the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced mortar composites. A 22 factorial design with a central point was used to evaluate the effect of fiber content and fiber length on the mechanical properties. The results demonstrated that the composites increased the flexural strength. The most expressive result was the modulus of elasticity because of the good cellulose fiber/cement interface.