Authors

Roneh Glenn De Guzman Libre Jr., De La Salle University
Michael Angelo Promentilla
Lessandro Estelito O. Garciano, De La Salle University
Bernardo Lejano
Andres Oreta, De La Salle University
Jason Ongpeng, De La Salle University
Ernesto Guades, Technical University of Denmark
Julius Leaño Jr
Audric Zuriel Cruz
Luis Felipe López, Base Bahay Foundation Inc.

Abstract

Natural fibers are being explored nowadays to provide the tensile strength needed in cementitious matrices. To give better bondage between the fibers and the matrices, surface enhancements for natural fibers can be induced through chemical treatments. In the current study, fibers are extracted from Bambusa Blumeana, an abundant local species of bamboo plant from the Philippines. Bamboo slats are pre-treated with varying concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and extracted fibers are treated with 10% aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3) solution. Extracted bamboo fibers are subjected to a Single Strand Tensile test. It is observed that bamboo slats submerged in 5% NaOH provides a better mean tensile peak load. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images show however that the fibers submerged in higher concentrations have developed rougher surface enhancements. The results can be used for developing bamboo fiber reinforced fly-ash-based geopolymer composites and with further studies, can be applied as textile reinforcement for structural strengthening or retrofitting.