Optimization of Mortar/ <i>Agave americana</i> Fibers Composite Behavior Based on Experimental Design
Insaf Mehrez, Houda Hachem, Ramla Gheith, Abdelmajid Jemni
Abstract
Processing parameters and manufacturing techniques of composite materials have a considerable impact on the physicomechanical properties of a final product. The innovative contribution of the current work was to optimize the preparation process of composite materials to obtain the best physicomechanical properties. The mechanical characteristics and the water absorption uptake of mortar/unidirectional Agave americana fibers composite were optimized using an experimental design approach (statistical analysis). A central composite design was considered to determine the optimum preparation conditions of the mortar/A. americana composite to ensure the highest mechanical properties and lowest moisture effect. A second-order polynomial model was developed. The results show that both parameters and their interactions significantly affect the composite’s compressive strength, water absorption uptake, and stress strain. However, only the two studied parameters have a significant effect on flexural strength response. The optimal properties of the composite are 11.14 MPa, 2.03 mm, 3.88 MPa, 0.93 mm, and 14.6%, respectively, for compressive strength, stress strain, flexural strength, displacement, and water absorption. These properties are obtained at specific processing parameters, respectively, 17.6Ve% of agave fibers loading and 4.2% sodium hydroxide fibers treatment solution concentration. The adequate treatment process was proven when testing fibers morphology (Scanning electron microscopy) and their crystallinity index (X-ray diffraction).