Influence of ‘Cocos Nucifera Linn’ Fiber Volume Fraction on Water Absorption and Porosity of Foamed Concrete
N. Mohd Zamzani1, M. A. Othuman Mydin2, A. N. Abdul Ghani3
1N. Mohd Zamzani, School of Housing, Building and Planning, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
2M. A. Othuman Mydin, School of Housing, Building and Planning, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
3A. N. Abdul Ghani, School of Housing, Building and Planning, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Manuscript received on July 20, 2019. | Revised Manuscript received on August 10, 2019. | Manuscript published on August 30, 2019. | PP: 3428-3435 | Volume-8 Issue-6, August 2019. | Retrieval Number: F9514088619/2019©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.F9514.088619
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Global apprehension and governance on carbon footprint emissions have driven a considerable amount of research on green concrete around the world. In the present day, it should be acknowledged that most of the construction products are produced using materials that require a high amount of energy and not naturally sustainable which can lead to global problem. Hence, the use of natural fiber like Cocos Nucifera Linn Fiber (CNF) in foamed concrete is considered as a useful option in making concrete as a sustainable material to overcome this problem. CNF refer to agricultural waste or by-products that can be obtained through the distribution of coconut oil and can be accumulated in a large amount in Malaysia. Moreover, it should be understood that CNF fibers are often discarded as agricultural wastes. Hence, the aim of the present study is to perform experimental studies in order to discern the effect of CNF volume fraction on water absorption capacity and porosity of foamed concrete. There were total of 21 mixes were prepared and test in this study. Three densities of 650 kg/m3 , 1050 kg/m3 , and 1450 kg/m3 were fabricated. CNF was used as additives in the present study at 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6% by volume fraction of the total mix. The results show that the water absorption of foamed concrete was slower at the beginning when it contained higher CNF volume fraction than the lower CNF volume fraction. CNF absorbed water and then expanded amid blending. CNF could anticipate fragility and lose microstructure arrangement, which reduces the capacity to oppose excessive loads. On the other hand, the porosity of foamed concrete is reduced due to the increase of CNF for each density examined in the present study. This occurs because of the reaction between the cement paste and CNF. Furthermore, higher density foamed concrete prompts the decrement of permeable structure, while the CNF serves to bridge the matrix. The arrangement of pores for plain foamed concrete without the incorporation of fiber was bigger compared to foamed concrete with the incorporation of CNF. CNF additionally helps in making an increasingly uniform distribution of the air voids. Thus, it will hinder bubbles from merging with one another.
Keywords: Foamed concrete, Water absorption, Coconut fiber, Porosity, Lightweight foamcrete, Green material, porous concrete.