Propriedades termomecânicas de compósito de pasta de gesso reforçado com microfibras de açaí para instalações rurais

Abstract

Gypsum is a material used in the construction industry due to its performance, low cost, and ease of application. However, despite its numerous advantages, gypsum has low mechanical strength and fragility. Therefore, incorporating waste as reinforcement has become a subject of study with the aim of improving the properties of this material. Among the alternatives, the use of natural fibers as aggregates has stood out due to their low cost, availability, and renewability, resulting in a sustainable material. This research aimed to evaluate the mechanical performance, based on three-point bending tests, and the thermal performance of a composite material developed from gypsum with the incorporation of açaí plant fibers (Euterpe oleracea) in volumes of 0%, 1.5%, 3%, and 5%. The composite materials were manufactured in the form of panels for use in roofing in rural construction, aiming to provide greater thermal comfort to buildings and improve the mechanical properties of this material. In summary, the addition of açaí fiber represents a sustainable alternative; however, the studied composites exhibited reduced mechanical strength, and no significant differences were observed in the thermal properties of the materials studied.