Performance Evaluation of Açaí Fiber as Reinforcement in Coating Mortars

The Amazon region faces a major obstacle caused by the high production of several natural fibersNatural Fiber, such as açaíAçaí (Euterpe oleracea). There is still no specific and consolidated destination for agro-industrial wasteWastes generated in the different stages of processing Amazonian fibers, causing environmental changes in the region. Furthermore, it is known that the use of these fibers can promote an increase in ductile behavior and tensile strength in cementitious composites. With the objective of contributing to the creation of new strategies that guarantee the improvement of mortarMortars properties and, at the same time, collaborate for an efficient disposal of the wasteWastes in question, this work aimed to evaluate properties of mortarsMortars in the fresh state with the addition of acai fibers. Three types of mortarMortars were developed: (1) reference (without the use of fibers); (2) with the addition of fibers without surface treatment; and (3) with the addition of material with surface treatment based on tannic acid with a concentration of 5% by volume. The fibers were added in the proportions of 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0% in relation to the Portland cementCements mass. From the results, it was verified that there was a reduction in the consistency index and mass density and an increase in the content of air incorporated in the mortarsMortars according to the addition of fibers. Thus, based on these results, the present study seeks to present the alterations of some properties in the fresh state caused by the addition of this natural reinforcementReinforcement.