Influence of sisal fibres and rubber latex on the engineering properties of sand concrete

This experimental study aims to investigate the properties of sand concrete (SC) by using sisal fibres and latex in various fields in construction. Sisal fibres were applied at four ratios of 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.20%, while liquid latex was replaced with three ratios of 15%, 25% and 35%. In this context, ideal percentages of sisal fibre (0.1% F) and latex (35% L) were combined in a single cement matrix. For each percentage, tests on flow, density, compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, modulus of elasticity, water accessible porosity, water absorption and shrinkage were performed on fresh and hardened SC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also conducted for microstructure analysis. Results indicate that adding latex emulsion to SC containing sisal fibres increased the adhesion of the fibres to the cement matrix, which contributed to the increase in flexural strength and the decrease in shrinkage. This condition also helped reduce the porosity and water absorption of latex-modified SC with sisal fibres compared with SC that contained fibres. The improvement occurred in the properties that constitute an obstacle to the widespread use of SC. Thus this improvement has practical implications.