Coconut Fibre - A Versatile Material and its Applications in Engineering

This paper presents the versatility of coconut fibres and its applications in different branches of engineering, particularly in civil engineering as a construction material. Coconut fibre is one of the natural fibres abundantly available in tropical regions, and is extracted from the husk of coconut fruit.Not only the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of coconut fibres are shown; but also properties of composites (cement pastes, mortar and/or concrete etc), in which coconut fibres are used as reinforcement, are discussed. The research carried out and the conclusions drawn by different researchers in last few decades are also briefly presented. Graphs showing the relationship between different properties are shown in this paper. Coconut fibres reinforced composites have been used as cheap and durable non-structural elements. The aim of this review is to spread awareness of coconut fibres as a construction material in civil engineering.   Key words: Coconut fibres, construction material, composites, cement and concrete.

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