| Author | Rungsima Chunahaswasdikul |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ST-91-3 |
| Subject(s) | Composite materials
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The durability of the natural fiber-mortar composite has been an interesting subject of study
since natural fibers were developed and used as reinforcement in thin concrete sheet. An extensive
experimental investigation is conducted on the long-term durability of natural fibers in cement
mortar. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of chemical treatment of sisal fiber
and RHA as pozzolan on durability of composites. The different chemicals having different concentration and duration of treatment were used in order to determine the optimum fiber treatment.
30% by weight of rice husk ash was used to replace a part of the ordinary Portland cement. The
durability of the composite was investigated by using simulated aging process.
Test results showed that soap water and alum solution can be effectively employed in the
treatment of natural fiber. The optimum fiber treatment condition was obtained when the fiber was
immersed in soap water for 24 hours and subsequently put in alum solution having concentration
equal to 0.75% by weight for another 30 min. This treatment resulted in higher water absorption
and tensile strength of sisal fiber. It also indicated that, after simulated aging cycles, the sisal
fiber-mortar composite using both fiber treatment and RHA as pozzolan showed a higher modulus
ofrupture, modulus of resilience as well as modulus of toughness as compared to those having fiber
treatment alone, using RHA alone and none of both. In addition, it was found that the decreasing
rath was also lower. Hence, it obviously indicated that the embrittlement is reduced somewhat in
sisal fiber-mortar composite in which 30% of the binder weight consists of rice husk ash and in
which treated fibers are used compared with composite in which only the binder replacement or
the fiber treatment is utilized. |
| Year | 1991 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Structural Engineering (STE) /Former Name = Structural Engineering and Construction (ST) |
| Chairperson(s) | Pichai Nimityongskul |
| Examination Committee(s) | Pama, Ricardo P. ;Ogunlana, Stephen O.
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The King's Scholarship from the Royal Thai Government |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991 |