Effects of the climatic conditions of the southeastern Brazil on degradation the fibers of coir-geotextile: Evaluation of mechanical and structural properties

Published Date
February 2014, Vol.42(1):76–82, doi:10.1016/j.geotexmem.2013.07.004

Technical note

• Author 

• Andréa Rodrigues Marques ^a,,,
• Patrícia Santiago de Oliveira Patrício ^b,
• Fábio Soares dos Santos ^a,
• Monisa Lopes Monteiro ^a,
• Denise de Carvalho Urashima ^c,
• Conrado de Souza Rodrigues ^c,

• aDepartamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais – CEFET/MG, Av. Amazonas, 5253, Nova Suíça, 30.421-169 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
• bDepartamento de Química Industrial, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais – CEFET/MG, Av. Amazonas, 5253, Nova Suíça, 30.421-169 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
• cDepartamento de Engenharia Civil, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais – CEFET/MG, 7675, Nova Gameleira, Nova Suíça, 30.421-169 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

Received 31 October 2012. Revised 27 May 2013. Accepted 4 July 2013. Available online 12 November 2013.

Abstract

In tropical countries where rainfall rates are high, and especially in deforested areas in the Atlantic Rainforest and Cerrado in southeastern Brazil, water is the dominant driving force of erosion. The most common method used to restore degraded tropical lands is to plant nursery-raised tree seedlings, but this method is not always practical and a variety of newer reforestation techniques have become available. Biodegradable coir geotextiles combined with native seeds can be used to restore degraded forest areas. The effects of the climatic conditions during a seasonal cycle of rain and drought were evaluated on the structural and mechanical properties of coir geotextile fibers that were treated, or not, with lime. Analyses of the tensile strength of coir fibers showed that after 12 months of exposure untreated fiber had retained 23% and treated fiber 19% of their initial strength. Two principal factors were considered in evaluating the structural properties of the coir fibers after environmental exposure: (i) initial cellulose retention and its stability after lime-treatment; (ii) lignin degradation and/or its loss to the environment. The structural changes seen by thermogravimetry (TGA) and Fourier Transforms in Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses explained the changes seen in coir mechanical properties. The greater cellulose contents of fiber structures treated with lime explained their greater tensile strength and high Young's modulus measures after the first three months of exposure in local weather conditions. Considering that lime treatment improved coir fiber properties, lime applications are indicated when coir geotextiles are to be used in acidic Brazilian Cerrado soils.

Keywords

Coir geotextiles

Fiber degradation

Structural properties

Tensile strength

Young's modulus

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