The hornification of vegetable fibers to improve the durability of cement mortar composites

The use of vegetable fibers to reinforce a cement-based matrix has its weakest point in terms of durability. The alkalinity of the matrix and the volumetric instability of the fibers are the main causes of the loss of resistance of vegetable fiber-reinforced cement mortar composites. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the previous hornification of the vegetable fibers on the mechanical performance and durability of softwood kraft pulp and cotton linters cement mortar composites. For this purpose, composites containing 4 wt.% of the hornificated fibers and the untreated ones were prepared with both fiber types. The mechanical performance of these composites was tested after 28 days of cure treatment and after aging with four wet–dry cycles. Results indicated that the previous treatment of fibers had beneficial effects on the mechanical performance and durability of the resulting cementitious composites.