Durability of the hemp fibre reinforced geopolymers

Abstract

To foster the sustainability in the construction industry, the reduction of the raw minerals consumption and the decrease of the carbon dioxide emissions must be our priority. One promising avenue towards sustainability in the construction sector is the development of geopolymers, as substitutes for traditional cement-based composites. To increase the ductility of the geopolymers, short fibres could be added. Due to the environmental awareness the natural fibres, specifically hemp fibres are used as fibre reinforcement in the research. The focus of the research was to increase the hemp fibres’ durability in an alkaline environment such as the fly ash- and fly ash/slag based geopolymer. For that reason, two main approaches, i.e., fibres treatment and matrix modification, were concerned. The effectiveness of the both approaches are presented through their mechanical properties (compressive- and flexural strength, as well as energy absorption capacity) before and after accelerated ageing.