Impact of accelerated aging cycles on the performance of extruded cement-based composites reinforced with non-bleached eucalyptus fibers.

Thermo-mechanical pulping produces well-individualized fibers compared to wood particles and less fragile fibers compared to Kraft pulping, besides presenting higher volume, higher yield, and lower production cost, which can be an exciting alternative for the fiber-cement industries. This study evaluated the impact of soak and dry-aging cycles on the performance of extruded composites reinforced with non-bleached eucalyptus fibers. The cement matrix comprised cement (70%) and limestone (30%). Composites were reinforced with 1 to 5% of eucalyptus fiber by cement mass and tested on the 28th day of cure at 99% relative humidity and after 400 accelerated aging cycles. The water absorption and apparent porosity gradually increased with the reinforcement level. Composites with 4 and 5% fibers showed the highest toughness (0.21 and 0.23 kJ/m, respectively). The aging by 400 soak-dry cycles reduced the composites' water absorption and apparent porosity. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), rupture (MOR), and toughness increased, except for toughness for composites reinforced with 1 and 5% fibers, explained by the cementitious matrix's continuous hydration, fiber mineralization, and natural carbonation. In general, eucalyptus thermo-mechanical fibers were suitable for producing cementitious composites. Cementitious composites with 3% fibers presented a higher MOR, MOE, low water absorption, and apparent porosity after 400 accelerated aging cycles. In addition, the composites with 4% fibers also presented remarkable improvements in these properties. The aging cycles did not result in composites with less resistance, a positive fact for their application as tiles and materials for external use in civil construction.