Since vegetable fibers as palm fiber are as a suitable reinforcement of cement-based matrixes used in structural applications. This paper was carried out to find out the optimum substitution of palm fiber in conventional cement-based matrix to produce lightweight matrix. In this research, palm fiber has been treated by immersing individually either in NaOH of 2% and calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2 of 0.172% respectively. While alkali treatment applied on palm fibers reduces the water absorption capacity by removing hemicellulose and lignin or by imparting hydrophobicity. In addition, immersing the difference kinds of palm fibers in the water during 24h and dried 2 days at 50 °C before testing. And electron microscopy has used to study the fiber morphology. Moreover, the water absorption coefficient and water content of the palm fibers was determined according to the ACI standard. Furthermore, comparison tensile strength results between treated and untreated palm fibers were investigated. And for specimens casting, liquid mortar has been used where W/C =0.57 and the dimensions of the moulds depended on the percentage of fiber in the mixing. To confirmed deceasing compression strength by adding palm fibers, compression test has been realized by inclusion different percent, length and kinds of palm fibers in composite mortar.
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