Bio-Fibres as a Reinforcement of Gypsum Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Gypsum composites are widely used but can be brittle.
• Enhancing fracture toughness is crucial for improved material performance.
• Biomaterials offer sustainable reinforcement alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sheep wool and hemp fibers as reinforcements for gypsum composites.
• To assess the impact of these biofibers on the fracture toughness of gypsum.
• To investigate the microstructural and compositional changes in the composites.

Main Methods:

• Flexural tests were conducted on small specimens to measure mechanical properties.
• Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyzed microstructure and composition.
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used for material composition analysis.

Main Results:

• Wool fibers demonstrated superior improvement in the mechanical performance of the gypsum matrix compared to hemp fibers.
• High adhesion between wool fibers and the gypsum matrix was observed.
• The gypsum matrix surface roughening contributed to increased bond strength with wool fibers.

Conclusions:

• Sheep wool fibers are effective in enhancing the fracture toughness of gypsum composites.
• The enhanced performance is attributed to excellent fiber-matrix adhesion.
• Waste wool fibers represent a promising, sustainable option for eco-friendly construction materials.