Reinforced Concrete

Effects of Fibre Treatment on the Properties of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Ternary Concrete.


Patrick Oguguo Nwankwo and Emmanuel Achuenu.

Summary
Most of the developing counties are very rich in agricultural and vegetable fibres. The use of vegetable fibres as reinforcing agent in composite matrices (such as cement and polymer) is attracting more attention for various low-cost building products. However, the main draw back in the use of vegetable fibres in composites is the lack of durability. In this work, sisal fibre treated by boiling and washing was used as the reinforcing agent in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete.

The cement-based matrix was modified by blending with fly ash (Fa) and calcined waste crushed clay bricks (CWCCB) as pozzolanas. Nine variations of the concrete specimens were prepared. Some specimens were blended with Fa and CWCCB and reinforced with 3% volume fraction of heat treated or untreated sisal fibres, while some specimens were not bended, but reinforced with either 3% volume fraction of heat treated or untreated sisal fibres. The mix ratio was 1:2:4 (one part binder, two parts fine aggregate and four parts coarse aggregate). The OPC was kept constant as 50% of the binders, while Fa and CWCCB were varied in the ratios; 20:30, 25:25 and 30:20 (Fa: CWCCB). The water/binder ratio was 0.6. Treatment of sisal fibres by boiling and washing improved the workability of concrete and enhanced the compressive strength of plain and ternary concrete. The ternary concrete with 25:25 (Fa: CWCCB) blend, reinforced with 3% volume fraction of heat treated sisal fibre gave the highest compressive strength.

Key words: Sisal fibre, Heat treatment, Ternary concrete, Fly ash, Calcined waste crushed clay bricks, Pozzolanas.

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Cement Maker Birla Corp Acquisition Update

Birla Corp.'s Cement Maket Changing Cement Units Acquisition

If cement industry experts and cement insider reports are to be believed, the biggest acquisition that the MP Birla Group's cement division, Birla Corp. is to undertake may not materialize at all. The 96 year-old Kolkota based cement company, is all set to acquire 2 cement units of Lafarge India in one of the cement industry's biggest and market changing deals.The ongoing ownership dispute between the Birla family and the Lodhas, who now manage Birla Corporation, according to news reports, could create obstacles for the deal between Lafarge and the company.

The MP Birla group has a 63% share in the company, but Birla Corp. is currently managed by Harsh Lodha, son of the late RS Lodha, a chartered accountant, who was a close confidant of the MP Birla family.

The total installed cement capacity of Birla Corp. is 8.79 MPTA and with the acquisition of  the Jojobera and Sonadih cement businesses from Lafarge India with a cement capacity of 5 MPTA approx., the company will have a total installed capacity of approx 14 MPTA. This will catapult Birla Corp. into the top 10 cement companies in the country and will be a game-changer for the eastern cement markets. Birla Corp will then be a dominant cement player in those geographical areas.