Incorporation of kraft paper fibers from post-use cement bag for the production of grass paver block of concrete

ABSTRACT

This paper aimed to analyze the feasibility of the production of grass paver blocks of concrete with the incorporation of kraft paper fibers from post-use cement bag. The bags were collected and processed, resulting in kraft paper fibers (FPK). It adopted the reference composition of 1:2.31:2.49:0.54, in the proportions of mass of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and water/cement factor, respectively. It was studied two compositions with FPK incorporation in the percentages of 0.5% and 1.0% in relation to the total mass of aggregates. For each composition, 4 specimens were molded, and the water absorption and compressive strength tests were performed at 28 days. As a result, all compositions showed water absorption below the normative limit of 6%. In the compressive strength test, the reference compositions, 0.5% and 1.0% FPK obtained 35.55 MPa, 30.61 MPa and 28.40 MPa, respectively. As the concrete with 0.5% FPK incorporation obtained better mechanical performance, 6 grass paver blocks were made to carry out the visual inspection and dimensional evaluation, which both met the normative requirements. This research presented the feasibility of the producing concrete with FPK and its use in the manufacture of grass paver block for areas requiring up to 30 MPa.

Keywords
Composite material; Concrete blocks; Recycling; By-product