Natural fiber composites durability in alkaline condition for building application

C. GÓMEZ HOYOS; M.M ESCOBAR; VERA A. ALVARÉZ, PHD.

PORTO

Congreso; 16th International Conference on Composite Structures (ICCS/16).; 2011

This paper studies the durability of fique fiber composites under alkaline environmental as a loss in mechanical properties. To assess their durability, composites were exposed to three different environmental: (i) water, (ii) saturated calcium hydroxide solution and (iii) mortar, aged in a saturated solution of calcium carbonated at 50 oC. Composites were elaborated by pultrusion. Fique fibers previously treated with 18 wt% NaOH solution and untreated fique fibers were used. The matrixes were epoxy and epoxy with 5 wt% of chemically modified C30B montmorillonite. Results showed that treatment and montmorillonite addition improved the mechanical properties and durability of composites.