Effect of aging process on mechanical performance of reinforced mortar with NaOH abaca fibers

There is a high demand for bio composites due to its eco-friendliness, lightweight, availability, low cost and life-cycle superior. This bio composite was prepared by reinforcing the cementitious matrix with alkali treated abaca fiber. However, one of the major concerns about this material is its durability in the cementitious matrix. This study gives an insight into the comparison of alkali treated fiber reinforced mortar (MFTHS) vs reference mortar with no fiber (MSF) through flexural, compressive, shrinkage and tensile test at 28 days, it also compared two processes of wet/dry cycles subjecting samples to the same mechanical properties. MFTHS increased its mechanical properties for an average of 25% compared to MSF. The same pattern occurs after applying WD-1 and WD-2, MFTHS showed better bonding between the matrix and the treated abaca fiber.