Durability of thermomechanical pulp fiber-cement composites to wet/dry cycling

Previous research efforts on pulp fiber-cement composites have largely concentrated on kraft pulp fiber composites. In this research program, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibers were investigated as an economical alternative to kraft pulp fibers as reinforcement in fiber-cement composites. Prior to wet/dry cycling, TMP composites exhibited increased first crack strength, but lower peak strength and lower post-cracking toughness, as compared to unbleached and bleached kraft pulp composites at equivalent fiber volume fractions. It is believed that this behavior can be attributed to the lower tensile strength and shorter fiber length of TMP fibers as compared to kraft fibers. After 25 wet/dry cycles, TMP composites showed losses in first crack (peak) strength and post-cracking toughness. However, TMP composites exhibited a slower progression of degradation during wet/dry cycling than composites containing bleached or unbleached kraft fibers.