Proceedings 2009

2009
2nd Amazon Green Materials

Meeting
Manaus, AM, Brazil, 2009
Edited by R. P. Vasconcelos
J. A. Melo Filho
V. M. Giacon
2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING
2nd Amazon Green Materials

Meeting
Manaus, AM, Brazil, 2009
ISBN: 978-85-7401-757-0
Edited by R. P. Vasconcelos
J. A. Melo Filho
R. K. Vieira
Tema Principal
Materiais Verdes
Temas
1- Materiais Verdes para Construo Civil

2- Caracterizao de Materiais
3- Reciclagem
4- Compsitos
5- Metodologias de Extrao
6- Materiais Cermicos
7- Sustentabilidade
Apresentao
O termo Qumica Verde refere-se ao projeto de produtos qumicos e processos que
reduzem ou eliminam a gerao e o uso de substncias perigosas. A prtica teve incio nos
Estados Unidos com a aprovao da Lei de Preveno Poluio de 1990, estabelecendo
uma poltica nacional para a preveno ou reduo da poluio na sua fonte, quando
possvel. Por outro lado a procura de construes sutentveis tem fomentado a investigao
de produtos alternativos, baseados em materiais resultantes do aproveitamento de materiais
renovveis e residuos industriais, convencionalmente designados por green materials,
por todo o Mundo.
Neste contexto, o grupo de pesquisadores do Programa de Ps Graduao em Engenharia
Civil da Universidade Federal do Amazonas, organizou o Primeiro Amazonic Green
Materials Meeting Encontro em Materiais Verdes da Amaznia que ocorreu entre 18 a 20
de agosto de 2008 no auditrio Rio Javari da Faculdade de Tecnologia. Embora organizado
em um espao curto de tempo, o entusiasmo e o apoio dos participantes mostraram o
grande potencial e os benefcios de se organizar tais eventos no futuro. Neste primeiro
evento houve a participao de pesquisadores de Cornell University (USA), North Caroline
University (USA), UNICAMP, COPPE/UFRJ e INPA, alm da participao de
pesquisadores e discentes, tanto da ps como da graduao, da UFAM. Em 04 de agosto de
2009, o Programa de Ps-Graduao em Engenharia Civil (PPGEC) organizou o Segundo
Simpsio de Materiais Verdes da Amaznia como atividade de encontro desenvolvida pelo
Programa da UFAM. Este evento contou com a participao de engenheiros, professores,
pesquisadores e especialistas da rea. O Programa forneceu uma oportunidade nica de
uma rede de trabalho e aprendizado para cientistas da indstria e estudantes da UFAM,
alm de buscar desenvolver atividades de colaborao em qumica verde, compsitos
verdes e reas relacionadas. O Programa incluiu a participao de especialistas de Cornell
University (USA), Universidade do Minho (Portugal), bo Akademi University
4
(Finlndia), COPPE/UFRJ, USP, UNICAMP, INPA e UFAM que contriburam com suas
experincias nesta rea.
Patrocinadores
UFAM Universidade Federal do Amazonas
NUTEC Ncleo Interdisciplinar de Gesto Tecnolgica de Materiais e Processos
FAPEAM Fundao de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas
AMAZONAS GOVERNO DO ESTADO
INCRA - Instituto Nacional de Colonizao e Reforma Agrria.
Comisso Organizadora - 2nd Amazon Green Materials Meeting

1. Raimundo Pereira de Vasconcelos, Ph.D.- Coordenao. Professor, Technology
Faculty Amazonas Federal University. e-mail: vasconcelos@ufam.edu.br
2. Raimundo Kennedy Vieira, Ph.D. Professor, Technology Faculty Amazonas
Federal University. e-mail: maneiro@ufam.edu.br
3. Adalena Kennedy Vieira, Ph.D. Professor, Technology FacultyAmazonas Federal
University. e-mail: adalenakennedy@gmail.com
Comit Cientfico 2nd Amazon Green Materials Meeting

4. Edison Bittencourt President. State University of Campinas Unicamp. Dept. of
Polymer
Technology.
School
of
Chemical
Enginnering.
e-mail:
e_bittencourt@uol.com.br
5. Juan P Hinestroza, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Fiber Science. Department of Fiber
Science
and
Apparel
Design.
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY.
e-mail:
jh433@cornell.edu
6. Orlando Rojas, Ph.D. Wood & Paper Science. N C State University.e-mail:
ojrojas@ncsu.edu
7. Anil N. Netravali, Ph.D. Professor, Fiber Science Program. Dept. of Fiber Science
and Apparel. Cornell University. e-mail: ann2@cornell.edu
8. Dr. Lucian Lucia. Department of Wood & Paper Science. NC State University.email: lucian.lucia@ncsu.edu
9. Raimundo Kennedy Vieira, Ph.D. Professor, Technology Faculty Amazonas
Federal University. e-mail: maneiro@ufam.edu.br
10. Raimundo Pereira de Vasconcelos, Ph.D.- Coordenao. Professor, Technology
Faculty Amazonas Federal University. e-mail: vasconcelos@ufam.edu.br
11. Adalena Kennedy Vieira, Ph.D. Professor, Technology FacultyAmazonas Federal
University. e-mail: adalenakennedy@gmail.com
12. Baslio Frasco Vianez. Coordenao de Pesquisas de Produtos Florestais Preservao da Madeira. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaznia. e-mail:
basilio@inpa.gov.br
13. Ruy A. S Ribeiro. Coordenao de Pesquisas de Produtos Florestais - Preservao
da Madeira. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaznia. email: ruy_saribeiro@yahoo.com
ndice
1. Uses
and
alternatives:
Chemical
characterization
of
lignocellulolitics materials. Maria de Jesus Coutinho Varejo &
Cristiano Souza do Nascimento. National Institute for Amazonian
Research- INPA, Manaus, AM Brazi.................................................7
2. Green Building Research Projects at Amazonian Structural
Engineering Laboratory. Ruy A. S Ribeiro, and Marilene G. S
Ribeiro18
3. Quality Management in the recycling of PET for the conversion in
ecological coverage in the city of Manaus (AM). Edsandra Magalhes
Ferreira, Joo Bosco Ladislau de Andrade ..30
4.
Vegetable Fiber-reinforced Cement Building Components: Some

Issues about Using Residues. Gustavo H. D. Tonoli, Srgio F. Santos,
Juliano Fiorelli, Ronaldo S. Teixeira, Francisco A. Rocco Lahr, Holmer
Savastano Jr..........................................................................................40
5. Functional Cellulose Beads. Pedro Fardim, Nasir Ali and Peter

Rosenberg.53
6. New Methods for Extraction of Polysaccharides. Pedro Fardim, Nina
Lindstrm, Risto Korpinen, Marjo Lukkarinen and Jan Gustaffson.57
7. Pozzolanic Reactivity of Powder Brick. Luciane F. Ribas, Maria Rita
P. Carvalho, Jo Dweck, Guilherme C. Cordeiro, Eduardo M. R.
Fairbairn, Romildo D. Toledo Filho.....................................................58
8. On The Issue of Education for Sustainability. Edison Bittencourt..71
Uses and alternatives: Chemical

characterization of lignocellulolitics
materials
Maria de Jesus Coutinho Varejo & Cristiano Souza do Nascimento
National Institute for Amazonian Research- INPA, Manaus, AM Brazil

varejao@inpa.gov.br
Abstract
This work the process of technological characterization of green materials of the Amazon Forest will be
approached by using the chemical tool. The wide use and application of certain green materials depends on
the physical, mechanics and mainly chemistry properties, due the interaction between products and chemical
composition were entirely linked to the environmental conditions. Traditional materials such as fibers of
cotton, ramie, sisal, coconut, bagasse or sugar cane, bamboo, jute, kenaf, straw of the banana and rice among
other is still quite used and your wide utilization brings together classic applications in the textile and paper
industries. However, new industrial branches are in the dispute for green raw materials, as for instance, in the
building, automobile and thermoplastic industries, tends in view the developing of new technologies that
making possible the use of products with lower environmental impact. Their use generates a larger number of
employments in areas of low of human development index (IDH). Basically the green materials are
constituted by the primary metabolites cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and in low proportion inorganic
compounds and extractives. Woody vegetable species are constituted of 40-50% of cellulose, 20-30% of
hemicellulose and 20-28% of lignin. These components constitute the cellular wall, together with low
amounts of material intercellular. They form the basis of the physical structure of the vegetable. In the last
years studies on the chemical composition of green materials of the Amazonian has been developed in Forest
Research Products Coordination/Amazonian Research National Institute (CPPF/INPA). On stipe and spongy
tissue of Bactris gasipaes (pupunha tree) several artifacts were created. Wooden residues had been used as
substrates in the production of comestible mushrooms. Barks of native species had been formulated in the
manufacturing of adhesives. Fibers of Astrocaryum acaule (tucum-i) were used at manufacturing of clothes,
while tests with fibers of Ischnosiphon polyphyllus (arum) for strengthening cement structures. Therefore,
these studies showed chemical properties that potentialized the use of green materials. Chemical
characterization of these materials played a relevant part on the creation of new bio-products. The potential to
be discovered on this raw material in the Amazonian provides us more and more in the technological
research, because the advances are beyond the academy contributing with the economical and social
development of the region.
Keywords: Lignocellulotics materials; chemical characterization; extractives; vegetable fibers
Introduction
Vegetable raw materials have a long time ago been used by the man and your use is so
important that the designation "age of the wood" was created. Several substitutes emerged
such as: steel, plastic and concrete. However, the energy for your production and
decomposition in the environment has been a great difficulty in the last years. Green raw
materials have been adopted at countries developed, producing new bio-products with
fewer environmental risks by using renewable sources and of easy decomposition.
Amazon tropical forest is an inexhaustible source of raw material since is managed and/or
sustainable forms. A priori the wooden resource is main source of the forestry and others
types of vegetables can and should be used relatives of the substituting bio-composites,
construction and industrial materials.
The use wide of certain green materials depends on the physical, mechanics and chemical
properties, due the interaction between these products and chemical composition close
linked to the environmental conditions. This combination and the green materials require
information of the physical-chemical characteristics of this raw material as well as the
factors affect its feasible performance.
Commonly designated as fiber there is a true group of filaments formed by fibrils
composed of carbohydrates oriented in different angles, consisting of the several layers of
the macrofiber designation known and composed preferably by cellulose molecules and of
hemicellulose and lignin units.
Studies accomplished in the last years on the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in
cement matrices has been motivated by the large number of available fibers and your high
mechanical resistance. The process of simple manufacture allows the production of
composites by several ways considered models for using at low cost houses.
Researchers of the Wood Chemical Laboratory of CPPF/INPA, Manaus, state of
Amazonas are developing studies with green materials. Chemical characterization was
initiated with studies of wooden wastes and barks; nowadays other types of vegetables are
studied such as lianas, herbaceous, palm trees etc. The research became indispensable for
acquisition of a database of the chemical substances and physical properties, before the
vast and important materials of the tropical forest, making possible the elaboration of
several bio-products of ecologically correct form and compromise with the quality of life
of the populations.
Brief review on traditional green materials
The wood for a long ago played a major paper due its variability, however, other materials
such as vegetables fibers: cotton, ramie, sisal, coconut, bagasse or sugar cane, bamboo,
jute, straw of the banana, among others. The use of the green materials is quite wide,
embracing classic applications as at the textile industry and paper. However, new industrial
fields are entering in the dispute for green raw materials, as for example, buildings,
automobile and thermoplastic industries that make possible the use of these products with
lower environmental impact.
9
The green materials receive special attention because originate several subjects that should
be focalized, mainly the no biodegradability and the recycling difficulty, which produce a
great accumulation of this material type in deposits, trashes and in the own nature (Mattoso
et al., 1999).
Among the products of natural fibers have prominence the finishing of inside vehicle due
their mechanical, thermal and acoustics properties. Several vegetable fibers are found
practically in all the continents and happen spontaneously in the nature, or cultivated as
agricultural activity and there are still those that are generated by residues, for the agro and
wooden industries.
The potential production of traditional green matters increases every year in Brazil of the
view point economical and social due to the contents lignocellulosics of these fibers as
well as your availability at market and their physical-chemical characterization (Table 1).
The utilization of the natural fibers is quite wide, involves since the classic applications in
the textile industry until the reinforcement thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers
matrices. Recently, the utilization of natural fibers as materials that absorb heavy metals in
the treatment of industrial wastes as been as alternative.
Table 1. Brazilian production of traditional green materials
Annual production (103 tonnes)
2004
2005
2006
Jute (fiber)
2
6
4
Malva (fiber)
10
20
14
Ramie (fiber)
1
1
Sisal (fiber)
199
207
248
Herbaceous cotton
(kernel of fruit)
3.798
3.666
2.884
Coconut
2.078
2.079
1.857
Pineapple
1.477
1.528
1.658
Bagasse or sugar cane
415.206
422.957
457.984
Rice (straw)
13.277
13.193
11.505
Source: Silva et al. (2009)
2007
6
20
215
3.661
2.017
1.682
489.957
11.045
Technical and commercial reasons, also, the industry of automobile started the use of
composites, being this a world tendency. There are some years ago several automotive
companies used already several fibers such as: sisal, coconut, jute and carau among
others.
The use of natural fibers in the automotive industry besides substituting renewable raw
materials makes possible the production of lighter and safer pieces, because those materials
don't generate sharp edges to the be broken; have excellent physical-mechanics properties,
equal or better quality, to the one of the conventional composites and, possess very lower
costs. The vegetable fibers are less abrasive than one inorganic usually used as
reinforcement (glass fiber) and leave lower wastes at the equipments in the processing.
Besides, are material biodegradable, basis characteristic for components that, once
completed their useful life can be discarded (Silva et al., 2009).
10
The advantages of the use of the natural material on the contrary to the synthetic fibers are
moreover the improvement in the physical properties. Its use generates a larger number of
jobs at areas of low human progress index.
Chemical properties - tools for characterization

Green materials present compact, complex and heterogeneous structures of biological
nature, possess a large anatomical variation and an not uniform chemical composition, that
change considerably of species for species and even inside of the own vegetable, mainly
with relationship to their extractive contents, components of the secondary metabolism
(Fengel and Wegener, 1984).
Basically the lignocellulolitics materials are constituted by cellulose (40 to 50%),
hemicellulose (20 to 30%) and lignin (20 to 30%) and in lower proportion inorganic
constituents and extractives in organic solvents. The primary metabolites constitute the
cellular wall with intercellular material, the basis of the physical structure of the
vegetables. Results of the approximate chemical composition of several green materials are
showed (Table 2).
Table 2. Chemical composition of the main green materials
Espcies
Total extractives
Holocellulose %
%
Agave sisalana-sisal (India)
50-70
Phyllostachys sp. bamboo
4-13
50-60
(Africa)
Saccarhum officinanum
2-10
45-55
cane of sugar (Mexico)
Cocos sp. coconut
2-6
25-60
(Phillipines)
Gossypium spp. cotton
80-90
(Indonesia)
Corchorus capsularis jute
<5
55-58
(Phillipines)
Conifers (USA)
1-10
50-65
Source: Han & Rowell (1996); Rowell et al. (2000)
Lignin %
Ash %
8-11
20-30
<1
5
18-22
2-5
16-45
2-10
3-5
1-2
21-26
<1
25-35
<1
Polysaccharides are the principal components of the primary metabolism of the vegetables,
included the cellulose and the hemicelluloses, starting from a fundamental physicalchemical-biological process that is the photosynthesis.
The cellulose presents a linear polymeric chain that only consists of units of -Danidroglicose, with -1,4 links type and posses an organized structure partially crystalline
(Figure 1).
11

6
CH2OH
OH
OH
OH
H
H
Final
grupogroup
final
no
redox
no
redutor
H H
H C
1
O
H
OH
CH2OH
OH
OH
H
H CHOH
O
4
H C
H H
OH
n-2
CH2OH
Final
grupo
group
final
redox
redutor
Figure 1- Chemical structure of the cellulose (Nascimento, 2000 adapted)
The hemicelluloses are in closely association with the cellulose and located in the cellular
wall, as well as in the medium lamella. They are constituted of carbohydrate
macromolecular units, with at least two types of sugars, being complex mixtures of
polysaccharides shows sugars contents of some fibers (Table 3).
Table 3 Sugar contents presents at vegetable species
Species
Glycose
Gossypium spp
92.0
Pinus sp.
49.0
Populus sp.
53.3
Phyllostachys sp.
52.0
Saccarhum officinanum
47.4
Hibiscus cannabius
47.2
Corchorus capsularis
63.8
Centella asiatica
39.0
Eichhornia sp.
37.2
Source: (Rowell et al., 2000 adapted)
Xylose
5.4
18.5
21.7
27.6
17.7
131
3.5
8.7
Sugars (%)
Galactose
2.4
1.0
1.4
1.2
2.8
5.0
Arabynose
0
0.8
1.7
0.9
0.8
11.4
Mannose
19.2
1.4
0
1.4
0.6
2.9
1.4
Lignin is closely associated to the structure fibrilar of the cellulose, within of the cellular
wall of the vegetable and exhibited higher resistance and durability. It is located mainly in
the medium lamella, whose deposition occurs during the lignification process of the
vegetable tissue. It is known that the lignin is a macromolecule of aromatic nature,
however, of structure not defined (Nascimento, 2000). It is assumed that the
macromolecular structure of the lignin varies within and between families and species.
The extractives (secondary metabolites) are substances no considered as inherent part of
the structural formation of the cellular wall or medium lamella of the vegetable tissue.
Species related to each other, that is, of the same gender, are many similar times causing a
narrow relationship within families and contribute for taxonomic classifications.
Constituents of the secondary metabolism result of the break of sugars of the primary
metabolism through controlled and catalyzed reactions by specific and genetically enzymes
that lead to complex compositions characterizing the secondary metabolism of the
vegetables.
The representative minerals are mainly salts of calcium, potassium and magnesium and
other elements that are present in lower amounts. The acidic radicals are carbonates,
phosphates, silicates, sulphates and in some cases oxalates. In spite to the variable
composition of the ashes a lot of times are composed from 40 to 70% of calcium oxide, 10
to 30% of potassium oxide, 5 to 10% of magnesium oxide and 0.5 to 2% of iron oxide.
12
Aluminum, manganese and sodium oxides are also present and spectroscopic analyses
indicate the presence of several other metals (Cunha, 1990).
Analyses methods
Analysis of wood trunk or other lignocellulolitics tissues are constituted by chemical and
biochemical data whose formation and organization are very complex. Today the wood
chemistry makes new directions and challenges with the new technological
armamentarium of the analyses and to the appearance of modification through mutation
and genetic methods. Therefore, these results would get new sources of information ever
since unknown. The complexity and technological progress are fascinating for the
specialist in search of more adequate methodologies in the routine of a laboratory of wood
chemistry. The methods described in this article are used routinely at laboratories of Wood
Chemistry Laboratory/CPPF in their original or modified form, improvement quality of life
environmental.
Analysis methods were according with standards; for determinations of extractives free
material (benzene, toluene, ethanol), lignin, cellulose, ash, silica (ASTM, 1994). The tests
are accomplished at duplicate and the results with oven-dry matter basis (moisture content
at T=1032C) (ASTM, 1994; Halward & Sanchez, 1975).
Green materials from Amazonian
Brazil has been in the focus of the main discussions politics on support and sustainable
developing due Amazon forest. Its magnificent and potential biodiversity woody, fibrous
and herbaceous attract attention at all world included researchers for studying on
sustainable forms of exploiting the potential green materials.
Food Agricultural Organization/United Nations Organization declared that 2009 is The
International Year for Fibers (FAO/ONU, 2009) whose aims are: to foment and the
same time to stimulate the search of the native fibers, to encourage adequate politics
response to the problems faces natural fibers, to promote efficiency and sustainable
participation of the sector with added value to the products created by low income
populations, getting themselves better quality of life.
Fibers of the species Ochroma pyramidalis (balsawood), Cecropia sp. (embauba),
Phyllostachys sp. (bamboo) and Ricinus communis (mamona) at thermoplastics
composites, in special polyolephynes and recycled PVC from urban wastes have been
studied (Marinelli et al., 2008).
At 4th Amazonian International Market (FIAM) were presented fabricated curved
roofing tile by TECOLIT enterprise situated at Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM). That
local the stand of the enterprise attracted attention of the visitors by environmental
invocation (Telha Ecolgica, 2009).
Edible Mushrooms Laboratory at INPA, there is studies for using of woody and
agroindustrials residues relative its cultivation. The researchers developed these techniques
for the species Lentinus strigosus and Pleurotus ostreatus. The native mushrooms of the
Amazonian were submitted the domestication for survival and are cultivated on substratum
13
sawdust, agroindustrials residues such as the bagasse of the cane. Also since wooden and
agro-forestry residues were used as substratum for production of edible mushrooms (SalesCampos et al, 2008).
Figure 2- Edible mushrooms at Laboratory INPA: A- Lentinus strigosu; B- Pleurotus ostreatus (Photo: Ceci
Sales-Campos) A
Barks of Leguminosae forest species were formulated natural adhesives. They are
presented results of chemical essays of several green materials deposited at our
databank. It is observed that the barks extractive contents were more elevated than
related others materials. The studies presented feasible chemical characteristics for
utilization of green materials and data obtained also that lignin and ash contents were
considered within limits reported at literature (Table 3) (Santos et al, 2008).
Table 3. Some results wood chemical composition of species of Leguminosae
Total
extractives (%)
Buchenavia parviflora
8.25
Carapa guianensis
4.43
Cedrelinga catenaeformis
6.53
Dinizia excelsa
7.80
Pouteria guianensis
4.59
Scleronema micranthum
2.50
Source: Nascimento & Barbosa (no published data)
Wood species
Cellulose
(%)
50.27
49.45
51.43
53.59
48.88
53.30
Lignin
(%)
30.80
33.27
27.76
28.55
33.89
32.32
Ash
(%)
0.45
0.80
0.31
0.18
0.83
1.19
The palm tree Astrocaryum acaule Martius (tucum-i) fibers showed technique
viability to textile production. Considering the unity design, technology and scientific
knowledge this raw material enabled a concept of a new and excellent product (Figure
3) (Maciel et al., 2008).
14
Figure 3 Preparation of samples of fibers tucum-i for chemical analyses (Photo: Karla Maciel)
Publication of Directed Research Projects, first edition of the PPG7-MCT [(PPDs)-PPG7,

2002] were presented chemical results on fruits for selecting of population of pupunha tree,
an Arecaceae (floor, chemical composition and biodisponibility of nutrients; on stipe the
generation of technology for confection of artifacts, musical instruments and prototypes of
furniture (Yuyama et al., 2002). Of the stipe and spongy tissue were obtained of the
population Tabatinga (with spines and spineless) and Yurimguas (spineless) extractives
(benzene and ethanol), lignin, ash, solubility in water (warm and cold) and pH at drymatter basis, respectively, harvested at basis, medium and top of the palm tree (Lopes et
al, 2000).
Table 5. Chemical composition of Amazonian green materials
Forest species
Albizia polyantha*
Aldina heterophyll*
Clathrotropis ntida*
Cynometra spruceana*
Diplotropis martiusii*
Dipteryx odorata*
Hymenaea courbaril*
Peltogyne venosa*
Palm tree
Bactris gasipaes1
Herb
Ischnosiphon polyphyllus2
Total extractives (%)
Cellulose
(%)
Lignin
(%)
Ash (%)
15.20
5.47
15.50
9.21
13.31
10.93
9.81
18.74
46.00
43.51
32.60
28.40
26.70
30.92
33.05
21.05
32.30
33.23
37.10
31.08
38.34
37.34
39.66
36.33
2.60
6.17
1,70
8.05
2.32
1.70
1.20
6.56
15.00
nd
20
1-3
< 3.00
37-74
5-29
nd
Source: 1 - Lopes et al., (2000); 2 - Marques et al. (2008)/ * bark / nd = not determinate
More recently fibers of Ischnosiphon polyphyllus (Poeppig & Endl) Koern apud Nakazono
(several types of arum) an herb of Marantaceae family was used for application at
reinforced cement for structures at civil construction (Table 5) (Figure 4) (Marques et al,
2008).
15
Figure 4- Utilization of fiber of arum used at preparation of cement matrices (Photo: Goretti Marques)
Final considerations
Chemical characterization of Amazonian green materials are a primordial tool for
creation of new bioproducts. A huge potential to be discovered nearly these raw
material stimulate ourselves more and more the technological research as evidenced by
the progress goes above all the academic knowledge of the data results and at the same
time, contributing with the socio-economical developing of the region added value to
their products, getting to the population of low income, opportunity, quality of life,
environment and other factors.
Acknowledgments: The authors thank express to M. Sc. Maria Goreth Marques and Karla Maciel
(UFAM, Brazil) and Dra. Ceci Sales-Campos (INPA, Brazil) for the cession of the images. The
financial support of MCT/CNPq/CT-Amaznia/CT-Energ n 13/2006; Directed Research Projects
(PPDs)-PPG7 coordinated by dra. Lucia Kyioko Yuyama.
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16
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Maciel, K.M.F.; Nascimento, C.C.; Pacheco, A.S.; Varejo, M.J.C. 2008. Technical
viability of tucum-i fiber (Astrocaryum acaule) for production in textile industry. In: 3rd
ECOWOOD. Caldeira, J C. (ed.). Fernando Pessoa University, Oporto, pp. 289-294.
Marinelli, A.L., Monteiro, M.R, Ambrsio, J.D., Branciforti, M.C., Kobayashi, Nobre,
A.D. 2008. Desenvolvimento de Compsitos Polimricos com Fibras Vegetais Naturais da
Biodiversidade: Uma Contribuio para a Sustentabilidade Amaznica. Polmeros: Cincia
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Marques, M.G.S., S, R.J., Vasconcelos, R.P. 2008. Caracterizao das propriedades fsico
e mecnicas da fibra de arum, para reforo matriz cimentcia. In: 18 CBECimat, Porto
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Sisal no Brasil; Silva, O.R.R.F., Beltro, N.E.D.M. ( eds), 1a ed., EMBRAPA: Braslia.
Nascimento, C. S. Avaliao de Propriedades Termicidas de Extrativos de Madeira
Amaznicas quanto ao ataque de Nasutitermes sp. (ISOPTERA, TERMITIDAE). 2000. 41f.
Monografia (Curso de Tecnologia em Indstria da Madeira). Instituto de Tecnologia da
Amaznia, Manaus, Amazonas.
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Agropecuria/UNESP, So Carlos.
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University, Oporto, pp. 113-120.
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Composition of Raw Material, Substrate and Fruiting Bodies of Pleurotus ostreatusi in
Culture. Intercincia, 34(6): 432-436.
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Amazonian Forest Species For Production of Wood Adhesives. In: 3rd ECOWOOD.
Caldeira, J C. (ed.). Fernando Pessoa University, Oporto, pp. 225-230.
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lignocelulsicas na qumica polmeros e em compsitos. Quimica Nova,32(3):661-671.
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Yuyama, L.K. O; Alencar, F. H; Aguiar, J. L. P.; Ferreirinho, M. L. ; Marinho, H. A.;
Oliveira, J. A. A.; Yuyama, K; Clement , C; Silva Filho, D.F.; Noda, H.; Cavada , B. S.;
Varejo, M. J. C.; Bessa, T M. F.; Lima, V. M O. C.; Pontes. C. L. F.; Rocha, J. S.;
Carvalho, N. A.; Vannucchi, H.; Cozzolino, S. M.F.; Pimentel, S. A.; Caruso, M. S. F.;
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do PPG-7/MCT. (Org.). Livro de resultados dos Projetos de Pesquisa Dirigido (PPDs)PPG7. Braslia: Produo Grfica Ltda., 2002, v. 01, p. 155-159.
18
Green Building Research Projects at

Amazonian Structural Engineering
Laboratory
Ruy A. S Ribeiro a, and Marilene G. S Ribeiro b
a. INPA / LTEE, Manaus, AM, ruy_saribeiro@yahoo.com
b. INPA / LTEE, Manaus, AM, mlene3@hotmail.com
Abstract
Two ongoing green building research projects are described. A sustainable green construction
project on modular houses is envisaged for Amazonia. And, the concept of horizontal shear
connection utilization on wood-concrete beams intends to be an alternative connection detail for
composite wood-concrete decks.
The house project comprises rain water collection and utilization, green roof, and ecological
sewage treatment. Besides traditional construction materials (cement, sand, clay, and lime),
bamboo based modular wall panels are used, taking as precedents previous sustainable projects
developed by the authors. Wall panel structures, columns, and beams are prefabricated with
bamboo structures (whole culms and strips) and cemented with microconcrete. Several
compositions of microconcrete (consisting of cement, sand, bamboo residues, wood residues,
clay, and hydrated lime of carburet) are analyzed. The green roof is supported by a structural
bamboo ceiling.
The wood-concrete research project uses medium to high density low grade tropical hardwoods
from the Brazilian Amazon region and steel rods scraps from a construction site. The beams
studied are composed of a bottom layer of staggered wood boards and a top layer of concrete.
The wood members are laterally nailed together to form a wide beam, and horizontal rebar
connectors are installed before the concrete layer is applied on top. Wood-concrete layered
beams with horizontal rebar connectors were tested in third-point loading flexural bending. The
results reveal high strength and medium composite efficiency for the beams tested. Further
analysis is suggested to optimize the connection parameters. Composite wood-concrete decks
can attend a large demand for pedestrian and highway bridges, as well as residential and
commercial slabs in the Brazilian Amazon.
Keywords: green construction, ecological house, bamboo, composite, wood-concrete, shear connector.
19
1 Introduction
1.1 Modular ecological house project
The modular ecological house composed of bamboo can contribute to lower the
housing construction cost. Thus, in terms of economical and social development, more
residential units can be constructed and diminish the housing deficit. In terms of
technological growth, the project execution will result in the following advances: 1)
Development of a sustainable green construction process; 2) Development of a system
for rainwater captivation, storage, and utilization; 3) Development of an ecological
treatment sewage disposal system, with reuse of treated water; 4) Development of a
green roof.
The project can benefit the segment of sustainable housing of social interest to attend
the classes with income wages up to three minimum salaries. It is a sustainable green
construction with bamboo substituting wood and steel, thus promoting a greater
balance in the Amazonian ecosystem, and reducing the emission of CO 2 to the
atmosphere. Rain water catchment and utilization will reduce the consumption of
potable water, besides reducing the impact on cities flooding. The ecological treatment
sewage disposal system will avoid the contamination of the water bed, and the treated
water can be used for garden irrigation. The green roof shall lower up to 4C the
interior temperature, giving more environmental comfort and lowering energy costs.
As precedents of projects, experiences, or similar initiatives already pursued, can be
listed: 1) CasaEco Project An ecological sustainable village with eight houses (Fig. 1)
built at the Forest Reservation Adolpho Ducke, km-26 of AM-010 highway, in Manaus
(S Ribeiro and S Ribeiro 2008, S Ribeiro et al. 2006, S Ribeiro et al. 2007, Vetter
et al. 2006); 2) CasaEcoProt Project An ecological prototype house (Fig. 2) built for
monitoring and tests at Bosque da Cincia, in Manaus (S Ribeiro et al. 2006); 3)
Bamboo-Wall Project Wall panels composed of bamboo (Fig. 3) for housing in
Amazonia (S Ribeiro et al. 2004).
Fig.1 Ecological village at the Forest Reservation Adolpho Ducke, Manaus
20
Fig. 2 Ecological prototype house at Bosque da Cincia, Manaus
Fig. 3 Wall panel with infill of bamboo-clay and finished with plaster
This article presents the ongoing research project which won the first prize of the
Prmio Professor Samuel Benchimol 2007 (S Ribeiro and S Ribeiro 2007) issued by
the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Exterior Commerce. The general
objective of this research is the analysis and development of a sustainable
construction for houses with a starting area of 42 m2, with catchment and utilization of
rain water, a green roof, and an ecological treatment sewage disposal system. The
main objectives of the research are: 1) Architectural and engineering designs of the
modular ecological house; 2) Adaptation of the Structural Engineering Laboratory
testing facilities; 3) Collection of the bamboo; 4) Treatment of the bamboo; 5)
Physical and mechanical tests of the bamboo; 6) Prefabrication of the bamboo based
modular wall panels, columns, and beams; 7) Construction of the prototype modular
ecological house.
1.2 Wood-concrete project

In spite of the existence of more than 2,500 different wood species catalogued in the
Brazilian Amazon (S Ribeiro 1984, S Ribeiro and S Ribeiro 1990), wood is very
little used in Brazil as an engineered structural element (excluding conventional
21

structures for residential roofs). Engineered wood structures are largely used in the
developed countries for constructions of schools, churches, commercial and industrial
buildings, residences, pavilions, highway and railway bridges, towers, theater screens,
ships, military and marine installations.
The conventional construction of a reinforced concrete slab presents a high degree of
wasted materials, and the steel reinforcement is expensive. The tension zone cracks
and half of its thickness is ineffective, only holding the steel reinforcement in place
(Gutkowski et al. 2000). The tension cracks can allow access to moisture, causing
corrosion, separation, and other types of degeneration. Exposed rebar is also a
potential problem for fire protection.
This research aims to substitute part of the concrete and the expensive rebar by a
solid Amazonian wood deck structurally effective. Since the wood deck can substitute
the normal formwork, the gain is leaving it in place, reducing in half the thickness of
the slab and interconnecting them. This also results in economy of the construction
cost. The competitive merit of this mixed construction is supported by several
examples of successful pilot projects in Europe and in the USA (Gutkowski and Chen
1996, Gutkowski et al. 1999a, Gutkowski et al. 1999b, Gutkowski et al. 2000,
Gutkowski et al. 2001, Brown 1998, Brown et al. 1998, Chen et al. 1992, Etournaud et
al. 1998, Etournaud 1998).
The embedded horizontal shear connection detail concept was first visualized and
sketched by the author in February 2001. The objective of this work is to study the
effectiveness of this connection detail, which is easy to fabricate and has a low cost.
The horizontal shear connection concept intends to be another alternative to be used
for composite wood-concrete decks. This experiment used mid to high density low
grade tropical hardwoods from the Brazilian Amazon region and 10-mm steel rods
scraps from a construction site.
2 Methodology
2.1.1 Architectural and engineering designs of the modular ecological house
The architectural and engineering (foundation, structures, electricity, and plumbing)
designs of the modular ecological house shall be in accordance with the quality
standards for housing of social interest. The green designs shall focus primarily on the
environmental comfort of the building. The modular ecological house shall have a
green roof supported by a structural bamboo ceiling, besides a system for catchment
and utilization of rainwater. The walls, composed of prefabricated panels structured
with bamboo, shall be painted with industrial residue (hydrated lime of carburet)
paint. The house shall follow the North-South orientation for doors and windows
openings, obstructing direct sunlight to the interior, thus promoting more environment
comfort.
2.1.2 Adaptation of the Structural Engineering Laboratory
22

The Structural Engineering Laboratory shall be adapted to this research project
through the acquisition of new equipments and accessories for microconcrete
compression tests.
2.1.3 Collection of the bamboo

It shall be collected 107 bamboo culms (9 m long) available in the region, 4-years old
average. Collection shall take place during the period less susceptible to fungi and
insects attack. From the collected culms, 95 shall be used for the prefabricated
structures (wall panels, columns, and beams) and the structural ceiling of the
prototype house. The other 12 culms shall be used for the physical and mechanical
tests to be carried out at the Structural Engineering Laboratory of INPA. The collection
work will hire labor from the local community which will be trained and accompanied
by the project coordination.
2.1.4 Treatment of the bamboo

The whole bamboo culms and strips to be used for the prefabricated structures shall
be treated by the Smoking Method. The bamboo culms for the structural ceiling shall
be treated by immersion in non-toxic preservative solution. After the preservative
treatment the bamboo pieces shall be conditioned for final use. The treated bamboo
elements shall be dried to the equilibrium moisture content in a solar drying kiln. The
treatment and conditioning work will hire labor from the local community which will be
trained and accompanied by the project coordination.
2.1.5 Physical and mechanical tests of the bamboo

The physical and mechanical tests of the bamboo shall be carried out according to
Standard ISO N315 DTR-2001 (ISO 2001). It will be carried out tests for moisture
content determination, density (mass per volume), tension strength, flexural bending
strength, shear strength, and compression strength. The tests will take place at the
Structural Engineering Laboratory facilities.
2.1.6 Prefabrication of the bamboo based modular structures

Prefabrication of the bamboo based modular wall panels, columns, and beams will
occur at the Structural Engineering Laboratory using designed templates conceived for
the project. Wall panel structures, columns, and beams will be prefabricated with
bamboo structures (whole culms and strips) and cemented with microconcrete.
Several compositions of microconcrete (consisting of cement, sand, bamboo residues,
wood residues, clay, and hydrated lime of carburet) will be analyzed.
2.1.7 Construction of the prototype modular ecological house

A Prototype Modular Ecological House shall be built in Manaus through construction
management of the architect and the engineer who are the project coordinators. The
construction work will hire labor from the local community which will be supervised by
the project coordination. All construction materials shall be acquired from places
nearby the construction site and their origins shall be in accordance with the principles
23

of sustainability.
The construction schedule is the following:
1) Foundations;
2) Sanitary installations and ecological sewage treatment plant;
3) Structures (columns and beams) and prefabricated modular wall panels with built-in
plumbing and conduit installations;
4) Green roof over sealed structural bamboo ceiling;
5) Plumbing and conduit installation in the walls, and rain water catchment system;
6) Cemented pavement for flooring;
7) Doors and windows;
8) Painting walls, doors, and windows;
9) Complementary services.

2.2.1 Testing procedures
Three wood-concrete layered beams were tested. Each beam represented a portion of
the width of a layered wood concrete longitudinal deck specimen. All staggered wood
deck for beams V1 and V2 was Mandioqueira (Qualea acuminata), and for V3 was
Angelim-pedra (Hymenolobium petraceum) in the outer layers and Mandioqueira in
the middle layer. The wood was surfaced dry, 50x75 mm and 50x38 mm nominal size
dimension lumber tested at an average 15% moisture content (MC) condition. The
average specific gravity of the wood, at 15% MC, was 0.74. The layered wood beam
section used was a 3.05-m beam, composed of 5 staggered vertical pieces. Wood
members were laterally nailed together (each 2 layers) with 80-mm long nails spaced
at 300 mm and placed on three scattered rows along the length of the beam. In order
to accommodate the horizontal shear connectors (10-mm diameter construction steel
rods), two 10-mm diameter holes, spaced 100 mm on-center, were pre-drilled at the
mid-length and at 300 mm from both ends of the 250-mm wide beams. The holes
penetrated the full thickness of the center-layer wood member, and just half the
thickness of the outer-layer wood members. The steel rod connectors were set in place
before nailing the last outer-layer wood member. Concrete formwork was constructed
around the beams using 12-mm plywood (Fig. 4). A picture of the wood-concrete
beam specimen tested is shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 4 Wood deck, steel connector, and formwork
24
Fig. 5 Wood-concrete beam test specimen

The mechanical properties of the construction steel rods used are: modulus of
elasticity, E = 200,100 MPa, and yield strength, fy = 250 MPa. All 15 wood members
were nondestructively tested using the Metriguard Stress Wave Timer device to
determine the longitudinal modulus of elasticity, Ed. The average value of Ed was found
to be 11,887 MPa.
The concrete layer was batch delivered with 18 MPa specified strength, consolidated
by vibration and moist cured. After curing of the concrete the wood-concrete beams
were transported to the laboratory for testing.
Testing was done using an Instron Universal Testing Machine with a 500-kN load cell
capacity at a speed of 10 mm/min up to rupture. Beam specimens were loaded with a
third point loading and simply supported over a 2.93-m clear span. Deflections were
measured at mid-span using potentiometers. Also, measurements of slip between the
wood and concrete layers were taken. The potentiometers were Celesco position
transducers with a measuring range of 254 mm and a position sensitivity of 94
mV/V/inch. The testing procedure was the following:
1) Connect the potentiometers to the beam.
2) Apply third point loading at a load rate of 10 mm/min up to rupture, using an
Instron Universal Testing Machine. Measure and record displacements, and
maximum load.
3) Check system recovery after rupture.
3 Results and Discussion on the Wood-Concrete Project

The wood-concrete experiment used 6 connectors per 0.75 m 2 for each beam. A plot
for the load-displacement of the beams tested on third-point loading flexural bending
is depicted in Fig. 6.
25
Fig. 6 Load-displacement at the center of the beams with horizontal shear connectors
Efficiency of the layered beams in developing composite action was determined using
an established definition (Pault et al. 1977),
(1)
where, Dnc is the theoretical non-composite deflection, Dfc is the theoretical fully
composite deflection, and Dm is the measured deflection for incomplete composite
action of the specimen. The three beams tested presented an average 32% degree of
composite action efficiency and an average strength of 42.83 MPa. The tests of the
three wood-concrete beams with horizontal shear connectors and low grade tropical
hardwoods showed a composite system 40.23% stronger than that tested by Brown
(1998) using vertical shear connectors.
4 Conclusions
The expected results of the project are:
1) Low cost housing with low environmental impact;
2) Housing of social interest built with renewable natural resources;
3) Development of a sustainable construction process;
4) Development of rain water catchment and utilization system;
5) Development of a green roof system.
The expected economical and technological results of the project are:
26

1) Monitored transfer of the results to the sectors of production, services, and
government;
2) Incorporation of the results by the sectors of production, services, and government,
through cost reduction, investment, and financial return;
3) Development of green engineered products for construction, using renewable
natural resources;
4) Development of processes to attain green engineered products from renewable
natural resources.
The expected social and environmental results of the project are:
1) Higher living standards for the peripheral population, providing good housing and
sanitation;
2) Rain water catchment and utilization will save the use of potable water;
3) Utilization of bamboo, a natural renewable resource, as construction material;
4) Reuse of treated water from the ecological sewage treatment plant;
5) Green roof.

It is possible to achieve a reasonable degree of composite action in layered wood
concrete deck specimens using nominal dimension lumber and a horizontal shear
anchor detail. However, more extended testing is needed to be conclusive. The results
reveal high strength and medium composite efficiency for the beams tested. This
suggests further analysis to optimize the connection parameters. A parametric study
and more experimental tests are in course. The composite wood-concrete deck can
attend a large demand for pedestrian and highway bridges, and residential and
commercial slabs in the Brazilian Amazon. Durability under repetitive loads and
extremes of temperature and humidity need to be examined, particularly for possible
applications in bridge decks.
Two important non-technical benefits of the mixed material construction are cost
savings of replacing non renewable resource based concrete and steel with a managed
renewable resource; and savings in energy of material production and construction.
Changes from concrete and steel to more wood construction can substantially reduce
energy requirements and carbon dioxide emissions (Natterer 1997, Weber 1997,
Wegener 1997, Wegener and Zimmer 1998, Winter 1998). These realities and the
outcome of this study encourage the feasibility of wood concrete composites as a new
application of dimension lumber in Brazil.
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30
Quality Management in the recycling of

PET for the conversion in ecological
coverage in the city of Manaus (AM)
Edsandra Magalhes Ferreira a, Joo Bosco Ladislau de Andrade b .
a. Universidade Federal do Amazonas,Manaus,edsandrac@yahoo.com.br
b. Universidade Federal do Amazonas,Manaus,boscoladislau@mandic.com.br
Abstract
Human activity, as it is known, generates environmental impacts that affect on
physical, biological and socioeconomic factors, impacting, especially natural resources.
These impacts are felt especially in water, air and soil and also the human activity. On
the other hand, we see that, although technologycan be the more advanced one, can
not yet be able to produce anything that is consumed on the planet without using
natural resources. These resources, such as petroleum products, which are not
renewable, are raw, among others, the production of plastics. These, in turn, are seen
as major identified polluters in the environment, needed, therefore, of modern forms
of management of which is recycling. The construction industry has proven to be one
that covers this interesting proposal of the concept of the 3Rs, proof that has sought
to find ways to improve the use of new materials in construction systems. Therefore,
quality management recycling is put on evidence in the manufacture of such
materials, which is the definition of the subject in this article, given that it deals with
the use of roofing materials, produced from solid wastes of polyethylene terephthalate
- PET in industry in the city of Manaus. It is the purpose of the article answer the
following problematical question: ecological PET tiles produced in a small recycling
company can compete with other companies in size and quality of their products? To
answer this question the goal of this research is presented as model to develop quality
management starting from the identification of improvement in the recycling of PET
plastic in the production of plastic tiles aiming the quality of the material to be used in
construction. Methodologically, to this end was made use of the PDCA (Plan, Do,
Check, Act), of continuous improvement, as the principle of quality management ISO
9001. Therefore, the main result, is planning for quality. In conclusion, there are
considerable possibilities for improving the quality of the product originated (ecological
tiles) with significant added value to it.
Key words:
Solid waste management, quality management recycling, PET recycling in construction
31
1 Introduction
The man, from the beginning, generates waste with the use, processing and
modification of natural resources. The concern with preservation, at a certain time,
came with the understanding that these resources are not renewable, thus the history
of waste is linked with the history of men himself. To face such order of concern,
recycling is seen as a management important tool.
The first and most visible environmental contributions of recycling is the
conservation of such resources, often successfully replaced by recoverable waste. So,
prolonging the life of nature reserves and reducing the destruction of the landscape,
flora and fauna, among others. The Reducing of the volume of waste disposed of in
controlled and health landfills, as well as the reduction of incineration and energy
consumption, are other important and rational consequences. In addition, many times,
recycling, also allows the reduction of pollution emitted in the manufacture of one
product, in addition to job creation and the increase of economic competitiveness
(John, 2000).
The case of Manaus, the benefits of recycling, particularly of plastic waste
polyethylene terephthalate - PET, are commonly referred by its top management of
the only recycling company of this polymer and up to now existing at the local level.
This company, for information, receives about 60 tons/month of PET material in its
many variations and turns them into plastic tiles (ecological cover) applied in the
construction industry.
According to Souza & Tamaki (2004), the construction industry has undergone
tremendous transformation in recent years. One of the reasons for the sector to
promote changes in the overall design, came from especially, from the need of
enhancing its image in the country. These authors also describe that the history of the
development of quality in the Brazilian construction sector can be summarized as
follows:
In the 1990s, the image of the construction industry in Brazil was of an
undeveloped activity employing less labor-skilled, almost did not make use of
mechanization and automation and maintained a high wastage rate, factors
which generated products of poor quality and high maintenance costs over the
life of the projects. The performance and poor quality of work often led to
compromise the durability of buildings, leading to dissatisfied customers and
end consumers (SOUZA & TAMAKI, 2004, p. 7).
With the awareness of the construction industry in Brazil, it has sought to find
ways to improve this condition, including using new materials in construction systems.
Therefore, the use of recycled materials from the use of waste end up competing with
the materials made from virgin material. Such products, however, are placed since
they can be in an acceptable level of quality within the construction companies that
are concerned with investment in new building technologies and programs of total
quality management - promoted largely by industry organizations such as Employers'
32

Unions of the Construction Industry - but the search for evolutionary classification,
according to the guidelines of PBQP-H (Brazilian Program for Quality and Productivity
Habitat) at the national level, and the ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) 9000 as international recognition.
In this context the proposed
work has the aim to present proposals for improvements to ensure quality
management in the process of PET recycling for the production of plastic tiles
in the industry under study in the city of Manaus (AM).
2 The issue of solid waste, morphology aspects of PET, the quality of

small business in construction and the PDCA cycle
The issue of solid waste is directly linked to population and consumption
explosion always increasing, which in turn is associated with lack of incentives for
waste collection, reduction, reuse and recycling, as well as the lack of area for waste
disposal solid, allowing the uncontrolled increase of waste in the environment. So, the
cost of waste managing has become a task that requires different and articulated
actions, which should be included among the priorities of all municipalities (CEMPRE,
2002). According to Agenda 21, the environmental management of waste should go
beyond the simple and safe deposit or recovery of waste generated and seek to solve
the fundamental cause of the problem by attempting to change unsustainable patterns
of production and consumption. In this context, recycling, each day that passes, it
becomes one of the most important environmental protection, assigning economic
value and technological development (CANDIANI, 2007).
The Brazilian context points to a potential socio-economic and business viability
for the recycling of plastic packaging, especially polyethylene terephthalate - PET,
requiring, however,a major conjuction action from government, business and research
sector. The materials with emphasis on construction from recycled PET are: pipes,
paint, flooring, coatings, concrete reinforced with fibers, etc also plastic tiles, the main
focus of this research.
According Awaji & Pavel (2005), the virgin PET is regarded as one of the most
important engineering polymers in the last two decades due to rapid growth in its use.
It is considered an excellent material for many applications and is widely used as
containers (bottles) that contain liquids. For the authors, it has excellent tensile
strength resistance and impact, chemical resistance, clarity, processability, color and
reasonable capacity of thermal stability. It has other properties as noble appearance
(brightness and transparency), partially crystalline and oriented (translucent), barrier
to gases, among others (apud MARANGON MANO, 2004).
The construction industry is a sector, in the national context, of significant
influence by its contribution to the development benefits of society. The construction
and growth of a civilization go together, combined with the mens well-being and
quality of life. Given its importance to the growth of society, the construction has
made continuous changes and advances, towards a higher level of evolution in
corporate governance (MELHADO apud Andrade, 2003). There are hundreds
construction companies that already are certified by ISO 9000, and QUALIHAB PBQP-H
33

or are in the process of deploying their systems of quality management and moving
towards certification.
To be truly effective, any organization, large or small, needs systematic ways of
conducting their activities. In this context, ISO 9000 is the model for employing such
system, whose main objective is to standardize, between customers and suppliers, a
system of Quality Management (ZACHARIAS apud RAMPASSO, 2006, p.14).
Continuous improvement is, currently, a major focus on the systems of quality
management in companies (ANDRADE, 2003). In turn, Moura apud Andrade (2003)
quotes the continuing improvement as the search for better results and performance
levels of processes, products and business activities. Moreover, Juran apud Andrade
(2003) states that improvement means creating organized beneficial changes,
achieving unprecedented levels of performance.
The cycle of quality or PDCA cycle is a basic managerial control tool that
combines action and learning, requiring act on the thought and think according to the
actions (Luck, 2003). According Werkema (1995), is a management method
representing a path to be followed so that the targets can be achieved.
Facing the knowledge of the aggregates to the companies in general, the use of
ISO 9001:2000, whose process approach is based on the PDCA method
improvements, it is important to the work so it can be identified and suggested
improvements in the fundamental processes to the Small Business under research.
3 Methodology
This paper presents a model of Quality Management based on ISO 9001:2000
Management Systems - Requirements. Developed in a Small Business SB that
recycles PET plastic bottles and turns them into tiles by plastic injection process. This
is classified in this way because it has only 27 employees, according to the market
segment for the activity of the industrial type, framing it in size and according to their
annual revenue as Small Business following SEBRAE standards (2004 apud
RAMPASSO, 2006).
The company studied was the first in the state of Amazonas using polyethylene
terephthalate - PET fiber as main input in the production of new materials. This
company has been operating for 10 years in the city of Manaus, where competes in
size and quality of its products with other companies. Many of them, invest in
management focused on the quality of their products and services. So, from the ISO
9001,it was found necessary to find the points of greatest impact for the company and
its effective implementation in accordance with the PDCA method, principle of quality
management, aiming the introduction of actions for improvement for the change in the
processes involved in the realization of product as an attempt to control the quality of
the material to be used in construction.
The methodology for the creation of improvement planning, developing efforts
in awareness and mobilization for the quality, is proposed in four interrelated steps
shown in Figure 1.
34
P: PLANNING
KNOWING THE
SB
UNDERSTANDING
THE ISO
COMMITMENT OF
DIRECTION
Knowing of the SB:

Diagnosis
Motivation of internal
costumers
Commitment
Goals Establishment
Planning: Policies
and Objectives
Analyzing the
Phenomenon
(Observation)
Customer focus
Understanding
quality in SB:
Diagnosis
Standard ISO x
Procedures in SB:
Diagnosis
Participation on the
Quality Business
Planning
Responsibility/Critic
Analysis/Provide
Resources
PLANNING FOR
QUALITY
Analyzing the
process
Planning for quality
Fig. 1. Steps and sub-steps on the quality planning preparation.

The first step, knowing the EP, refers to the knowledge of the characteristics
of the company, i.e., the diagnosis of its current situation, involving four relevant
sources of information in the survey, according shown in Figure 1. For the second
step, understanding the ISO, it refers to the understanding by inner customers of
the company's internal quality concepts, or even to provide understanding on ISO
9001, through the explanation of lectures.
The third item, commitment of direction, regards the participation of
directions company for the works focused on quality. This fourth and final item,
planning for quality is more important as regards the application of the P phase on
PDCA cycle, using the brainstorming and cause and effect diagram, using the
methodology of 5W1H for the preparation of quality planning.
4 Results and Discussion

As the first step in the knowing the PE, the diagnosis of the state gave us an
opportunity to know the company and gather information that will help us to take a
decision to seek opportunities for improvement. These data were collected through
structured
observations, structured
interviews
and
unstructured,
informal
conversations that included management and internal customers, i.e. employees
directly involved in the production process that enabled us to analyze the company's
reality. We know what type of activity and the local market, customers and
competitiveness of the sector, merits and challenges faced daily by PE.
35

In this second item, customer focus, has the purpose to know the ownership of the
product, which in the opinion of customers needs improvement, where was identified
the profile of clients served. The retailer public in general is the largest consumer of
the product with 58.7% of sales, but we opted to apply the kind of structured
interview to construction materials shops, which are in second place with 23.2%.
These products as they provide for both the retail public in general, and for builders,
are well suited to respond to the survey, after attending all those involved by
providing the product. Table 1 shows the interview results applied to the
representative of the company responsible for the acquisition of materials.
Continuing the stage, the third item, understanding quality in PE, showed us through a
multiple choice questionnaire, the need to improve knowledge of the processes
involved in processing the product, which will be held at a later stage, considering
ISO. This last item, ISO procedures x EP, we have the knowledge of how the company
treats the concepts of quality, soon identified the need to: 1) restructure the system,
defining responsibilities, authorities and communication of those involved, in order to
build an organizational structure in line with reality, 2) build and document the
sequence and interaction of processes, 3) make use of an effective planning tool,
defining quality policy and objectives and targets; 4) pre-determine customer
requirements, 5) provide resources to implement and maintain a system of quality
management - quality management system, among others. So, there is the possibility
of effective monitoring and measurement control, as for the customer satisfaction, as
for the processes and existing services and establishment of procedures and records of
actions, with the establishment of indicators of goal attainment for quality.
The second step, understanding the ISO, came to meet deficiencies discovered in
the previous step with the need for explanation in lectures aiming to arouse
motivation of internal customers and involving them in actions for improvements.
These were addressed in order to know the main activity of the company and its
implications, the ISO 9001 and PDCA cycle. We obtain satisfactory results for the
interest shown by employees to learn and contribute to research for the improvement
actions.
Properties
Customer
4
Total
Durability
Deformation Strength
Thermal Comfort
Acoustical Comfort
watertight
Cost
Architectonic Characteristics
2
0
36
Application
Table 1 Properties to be improved.

In the third stage, directions commitment, have been developed policy and
quality objectives. The targets for attainment of quality have been aligned to the
chosen goal, which was the focus on continuous improvement, because it is intimately
connected to property improvement, product durability. These correspond respectively
to changes in acquisition, recycling and processing.
For the Goals Establishment, the fourth step, planning for quality, baring in
mind that all the efforts so far, prepared the company to reach this last stage, their
cases were studied to determine: 1) Reduce by 50% contamination of raw press in 1
year, 2) analyze 100% of the parts of ground material for verification of contaminants
in 1 year and 3) adapt in 50%the condition of the raw materials according to
specifications of the material in 1 year.
In analyzing the phenomenon, we know and identify the processes of product
realization according to figure 2 as we determine their sequence and interaction.
A comment is made valid when the observation of the receipt, the Small
Business does not have a control type of raw material it receives. Because it is waste,
any material that is offered and it shows similar to the PET is acquired. The storage of
bundles and bags, also ends up compromising the quality of raw material, many are
exposed outdoors, cycles of sun and rain and to its own land for waste are stored in an
unpaved place.
The lack of care in the storage of these materials implies in the post-acquisition
process, when washing the raw material in the recycling process.
Because of its occurrence is continuous, the recycling process makes the control
of the activities difficult. There are no minimum specifications for the reprocessing of
PET post consumption such as meeting the essential requirements for a successful
recycling. So, the main factor affecting PET flakes is the level and nature of
contaminants in flakes. Therefore, the process developed by PE does not provide care
to these requirements affecting the quality of raw material flakes.
37
Begin
Begin
Begin
Receiving
Selecting
Putting raw
material in the
mixer
raw material
bottles on wake
Weighting
Entrance on the
dehumidifying
machine
Approved?
Discarding
No
Yes
material
Washing
Separation of air
among flakes
Wake
Storage of the
material
Mill
Mix and
Extrusion
Washing
Putting on the
mould
Separation by
weight
Obtaining
product
Washing
Packaging
Draying
Storage of the
product
Storage
End
Doing
payment order
Storing
material
End
raw material
to pipes
raw material
to tiles
38
End

Fig. 2. Processes of product development at the company, respectively, acquisition,
recycling and processing.
Just like recycling, the transformation process is continuous. The observations
taken into account concern the control of activities in this process, when the strength
of the raw materials, their proportions and types of material involved, the control of
temperature and time of dehumidification, the pigment and additive incorporated into
the mixture to the obtaining of the material injected and the injection temperature. As
the care of the storage of tiles.
To fulfill the item, review the process, we have the participation of all the
involved in the processes directly linked to quality in the manufacture of the product.
The answers regarding the methodology used, brainstorming, were very good. The
participants had formal education at primary and secondary, but according to their
daily experiences, could contribute according to expectations.
During the methodology, we present the analysis results of the phenomenon,
pointing out the policy and quality purposes for understanding the emergence of the
improvement goals. Each participant was asked to reflect on the factors that influence
the durability of the tile problem, and then was presented the cause and effect
diagram for consideration of the team. All could make an equal voice in determining
the causes. At first there was some difficulty by the participants, but according to the
sequence of ideas and opinions presented were collected valuable contributions, which
were added to the methodology.
This last item, planning for quality, plans were made to the causes of action,
which, from the point of view of those involved were given priority.
The knowledge of the priority causes allowed us to indicate the improvement
actions in the processes of acquisition, recycling and processing of products, covering
items related to planning, control of work processes to achieve quality through
continuous improvement, information record such as compliance of the standardized
procedures, improvement on the working environment and adequacy of infrastructure,
training, use of EPI, based on better working conditions for internal clients.
Instructions for activities that require greater control in the handling of raw material
and equipment costs of the process.
Quality planning requires the continuation of the proposed methodology for this
research, such as a guide to effectiveness of actions. So, there is the promotion of
PDCA cycle of continuous improvement in pursuit of better results.
5 Conclusion
Recycling itself, as explained exhaustion, has numerous benefits to the quality of
societys life through the preservation of natural non-renewable resources. When
talking about studies that aim to help or make a better growing sector today, we are
developing successful partnerships to maximize those benefits.
Therefore, the proposed methodology has been applied effectively, by the
knowledge of the company has been very well explained, so the quality planning is
done with first important initiative with the inclusion of the concepts of quality in the
Small Business to make real this sectors need.
The research presented the importance of getting to know the customer as a
requirement for their stay and competitiveness in today's market, as for the
application of the methodology that generated an incentive for motivating employees
39

through their involvement and participation effectively in the preparation of action
plans. So, the effectiveness result of the plans are reflected in quality improvement of
life for people living in the city of Manaus for the decrease of impacts caused by this
residue in the environment.
The main recommendations for research are to follow, from the planning, the
other phases of the PDCA cycle in order to standardize the effective actions and
continuously improve processes, and the creation of an environmental legislation
regarding the responsibility of the post-consumer PET, for important contribution
sought by the chain of PET, as well as the allocation of environmental gains, social,
economic and cultural to the population in general.
6 References
1. Andrade, F. F. O mtodo de melhorias PDCA. 2003. Dissertao (Mestrado em
Engenharia) Escola Politcnica, Universidade de So Paulo, 2006.
2. Awaja, F.; Pavel, D, 2005. Recycling of PET. European Polymer Journal, Europa, 16
maro 2005. Disponvel em:<http://www.sciencedirect.com/>. Acesso em: 20 junho
2008.
3. Candian, L. M. Estudo do polietileno de alta densidade reciclado para uso em
elementos estruturais. 2007. Dissertao (Mestrado em Engenharia de Estruturas)
Escola de Engenharia de So Carlos, Universidade de So Paulo, So Carlos, 2007.
4. Cempre Compromisso Empresarial para Reciclagem, Ipt - Instituto de Pesquisas
Tecnolgicas, Programa Bio Conscincia, 2002. Lixo Municipal: Manual de
Gerenciamento Integrado. 2 ed. cor. Braslia.
5. John, V. M. Reciclagem de resduos na construo civil: contribuio metodologia de
pesquisa e desenvolvimento. So Paulo, 2000. Tese (Livre Docncia) Escola
Politcnica da Universidade de So Paulo, 2000.
6. Lucke, S. A. Recomendaes para um sistema de qualidade para um empresa
ambiental. 2003. Dissertao (Mestrado Profissional em Engenharia Mecnica)
Faculdade de Engenharia Mecnica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, So Paulo,
2003.
7. Marangon, E. Aspectos do comportamento e da degradao de matrizes de concreto
de cimento Portland reforados com fibras provenientes da reciclagem de garrafa PET.
2004. Monografia (Graduao em Engenharia Civil) Universidade Regional do
Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Iju, 2004.
8. Rampasso, C. A. Diagnstico e Proposio da Implantao de um Sistema de Gesto
da Qualidade em uma Pequena Empresa. 2006. Dissertao (Mestrado Profissional em
Engenharia de Mecnica/Gesto da Qualidade Total) Faculdade de Engenharia
Mecnica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, So Paulo, 2008.
9. Souza, R.; Tamaki, M. R., 2004. Gesto de materiais de construo. 1. ed. So Paulo:
O Nome da Rosa.
10. Werkema, M. C. C., 1995. As ferramentas da qualidade no gerenciamento de
processos. 3. ed. Belo Horizonte: Fundao Christiano Ottoni, Escola de Engenharia
da UFMG.
40
Vegetable Fiber-reinforced Cement

Building Components: Some Issues about
Using Residues
Gustavo H. D. Tonoli a, Srgio F. Santos b, Juliano Fiorelli b, Ronaldo S.
Teixeira a, Francisco A. Rocco Lahr a, Holmer Savastano Jr.b
aEscola
de Engenharia de So Carlos, So Carlos-SP, Brazil.

gustavotonoli@yahoo.com.br, frocco@sc.usp.br
bFaculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de So Paulo,

Pirassununga-SP, Brazil. sfsantos1@usp.br, julianofiorelli@usp.br, holmersj@usp.br
ABSTRACT
While recycling of low added-value residual materials constitutes a present day challenge in
many engineering fields, attention has been given to cost-effective building materials with
similar constructive features as those presented by materials traditionally employed in civil
engineering. Bearing in mind their properties and performance, this work addresses prospective
applications of some elected agroindustrial residues or by-products as non-conventional building
materials as means to reduce housing costs.
Such is the case of blast furnace slag (BFS), a glassy granulated material regarded as a byproduct from pig-iron manufacturing. Besides some form of activation, BFS requires grinding to
fineness similar to commercial ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in order to be utilized as
hydraulic binder. BFS hydration occurs very slowly at ambient temperatures while chemical or
thermal activation (singly or in tandem) is required to promote acceptable dissolution rates.
Fibrous wastes originated from sisal and banana agroindustry as well as from eucalyptus
cellulose pulp mills have been evaluated as raw materials for reinforcement of alternative
cementitious matrices, based on ground BFS.
Production and appropriation of cellulose pulps from collected residues can considerably increase
the reinforcement capacity by means of vegetable fibers. Composites are prepared in a slurry
dewatering process followed by pressing and cure under saturated-air condition. Exposition of
such components to external weathering leads to a significant long-term decay of mechanical
properties while micro-structural analysis has identified degradation mechanisms of fibers as
well as their mineralization. Nevertheless, these materials can be used indoors and their
physical and mechanical properties are discussed aiming the achievement of panel products
suitable for housing construction whereas results obtained have pointed to their potential as
cost-effective building materials.
Key words: cellulose fibers, composites, tiles, fiber-cement, lignocellulosic fibers.
41
1 INTRODUCTION
Developing countries usually face grave housing deficits. As a result, a considerable
percentage of the world population still lives at houses that are considered inadequate.
In 2006, estimates suggested that around 7.9 million dwellings were needed in Brazil,
most of them (83%) located in urban areas, particularly in the so-called Metropolitan
Regions surrounding Brazilian state capitals (2.2 million dwellings) [1]. Metropolitan
Regions around So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cities present the greatest housing
deficits, adding together to almost 1.2 million dwellings [1].
Aiming at lowering costs, scientific attention has been given to non-conventional
building materials with similar features as those presented by construction materials
traditionally used in civil engineering. Two different advantages can be pointed out as
(i) it may help to reduce dwelling deficits (particularly in developing countries)
inasmuch as cheaper houses become economically feasible and (ii) it can be
environmentally friendly as low-value wastes can be recycled or exploited.
Accordingly, this work is particularly interested in agroindustrial residues or byproducts as prospective non-conventional construction materials.
2 VEGETABLE FIBERS AS NON-CONVENTIONAL BUILDING MATERIAL

Vegetable fibers are widely available in most developing countries. They are suitable
reinforcement materials for brittle matrix even though they present relatively poor
durability performance. Accounting for the mechanical properties of the fibers as well
as their broad variation range, one may develop building materials with suitable
properties by means of the adequate mix design [2], [3].
The purpose of the fiber reinforcement is to improve mechanical and physical
properties of a given building material [4]. A major advantage concerning fiber
reinforcement of a brittle material (e.g., cement paste, mortar or concrete) is the
composite behavior after cracking. Post-cracking toughness enhanced by low-modulus
fibers in the material may allow large-scale utilization of such composites in buildings
[4].
There are two approaches for the development of new composites of fiber-cement [5].
The first one is based on the production of thin sheets and other non-asbestos
components. The components are similar to asbestos-cement ones and they are
produced by well-known industrial-scale processes such as Hatschek and Magnani
methods commercially used with high acceptance for building purposes [6]. The
second approach consists of producing composites for different types of building
components like load-bearing hollowed wall, roofing tiles, and ceiling plates.
Estimated as several million of tons per year [7], consumption of fiber-reinforced
cement building components is rapidly increasing, especially in developed countries.
This is because such type of material allows one to produce lightweight building
components with good mechanical performance (mainly regarding impact energy
absorption) and suitable thermal-acoustic insulation, while being economically
attractive [4]. Fibers naturally occur in tropical and equatorial countries, where they
have been essentially targeted to cordage, textile, and papermaking sectors. Their
heterogeneity and perishing allied to restricted market for their use have lead to
intense generation of residues with high pollution potential. For example, each ton of
42

commercially used sisal fibers yields three tons of residual fibers, whose dumping can
originate environmental hazards [8].
As reported by Coutts [9], vegetable fibers contain cellulose (which is a natural
polymer) as the main reinforcement material. The chains of cellulose form microfibrils,
which are held together by hemicellulose and lignin in order to form fibrils. The later
are then assembled in various layers to build up the fiber structure. Fibers or cells are
cemented together in the plant by lignin, which can be dissolved by the alkalinity of
the cement matrix [10]. The usual denomination for fibers is indeed a reference to
strands with significant consequences on durability studies.
Banana fibers cut from the plant pseudo-stem and sisal by-products from cordage
industries are examples of widely available fibers. Eighteen types of potential fibers
have been identified, including cellulose pulp recovered from newspaper, malva, coir,
and sisal [5]. However, if costs and availability issues are accounted for, the number
of suitable fiber types reduces drastically. Coir, sisal chopped strand fibers, and
eucalyptus residual pulp have already been identified as fibrous waste materials
suitable for cement reinforcement [8].
Although chopped fibrous residues can be directly introduced into the cement matrix
for reinforcement, further chemical processing of these residual fibers has proved to
improve the performance of the building products [11]. Pulped fibers are preferred for
composites production using slurry vacuum de-watering technique, which is a
laboratory-scale crude simulation of Hatschek process. During the de-watering stage,
pulp forms a net that retains cement grains. Small fibers remain homogeneously
distributed in two directions (2-D) into the matrix [12] and this fact suggests some
advantages of using sisal pulp (individualized fibers) in relation to sisal strand fibers
[11]. Reinforcement is distributed into the composite leading to the effective capacity
of reinforcing and bridging cracks during bending tests. Cellulose pulps can be
produced from residual crops (non-wood) fibers or wood species, thru the reaction
with alkaline liquors (e.g., sulfate or Kraft process) or organic solvents (e.g., ethanol).
Low performance of natural fiber reinforced composites (NFRC) has been associated to
the use of chopped strand fibers as reinforcement for ordinary brittle cement matrices
produced by conventional dough mixing methods [5]. This has been identified as the
main reason for the low acceptance of these products by the industry [13]. In view of
that, agricultural residual fibers discussed in this work were further prepared in order
to fit their use and to achieve improved performance in the composites.
3 VEGETABLE FIBER-CEMENT: COMPONENT, COMPOSITE, AND PERFORMANCE

A main drawback of using vegetable fibers is their durability in the cementitious matrix
and the compatibility between both phases. Alkaline media weaken most natural
fibers, especially the vegetable ones, which are actually strands of individual
filaments. The mineralization phenomenon proposed elsewhere [14], [15] can be
associated to the long-term loss of the composite tenacity. The severe degradation of
exposed composites can also be attributed to the interfacial damages due to
continuous volume changes exhibited by the porous vegetable fibers inside the cement
matrix [16].
The Research Group on Rural Construction (Faculty of Animal Science and Food
Engineering FZEA, University of So Paulo USP, Brazil) has adopted two
43

approaches to improve the durability of vegetable fibers. One is based on fibers
protection by coating to avoid the pore water effect, mainly due to the high alkalinity.
The other approach aims at reducing the free alkalis within the matrix by developing
low alkaline binders based on industrial and/or agricultural by-products [17]. Similar
reduced alkalinity effect can be reached by fast carbonation process as presented in
[18], [19]. Studies and strategies to improve durability of vegetable fibers have been
basically carried out on two types of building components, namely, roofing tiles and
flat sheets for wall panels. Methodologies and results obtained for each type of
composite material are presented and discussed in the following sections.
4 ROOFING TILES
Cement-based roofing tiles containing vegetable fibers or particles for rural
constructions have been reported elsewhere [20], [21], [22]. Better results for fibercement materials were found using refined pulp and slurry dewatering process,
followed by pressing [23]. The improved composites performance may justify the
increase in energy consumption during these procedures. Such production is based on
vacuum dewatering followed by pressing and it can be worthy for undulated tile
fabrication in the near future by using the natural fibers or agricultural residues.
4.1 Improving tiles performance by accelerated carbonation
The present laboratory study was carried out as an attempt to produce durable fibercement roofing tiles (approximate dimensions: 500 mm long, 275 mm wide, 8 mm
thick) by slurry dewatering technique and using sisal (Agave sisalana) Kraft pulp as
reinforcement. Effects of accelerated carbonation on physical and mechanical
performances of vegetable fiber-reinforced cementitious tiles were evaluated along
with their behavior after ageing. Cement based mixture was prepared with
approximately 40% of solids (4.7% sisal pulp, 78.8% cement, and 16.5% ground
carbonate material in the dry basis).
Initial cure was carried out in controlled environment (i.e., temperature: 25 2C,
relative humidity - RH: 70 5%). Roofing tiles remained in moulds protected with
plastic bags for two days. Afterwards, roofing tiles were removed from moulds and
immersed in water for further 26 days. After the total curing period (28 days), tiles
were submitted to both physical and mechanical tests. Remaining tiles series were
intended to soak and dry-accelerated ageing tests as well as to accelerated
carbonation. All the tiles were tested in saturated condition after immersion in water
for at least 24 h. Accelerated carbonation of roofing tiles was carried out in a climatic
chamber providing environment saturated with carbon dioxide (CO 2) and controlled
temperature (20oC) and humidity (75% RH). Roofing tiles were submitted to climatic
chamber environment during one week until complete carbonation of samples.
In general, ageing cycles contributed to mitigate leaching and to reduce porosity of
roofing tiles. Accelerated carbonation followed by 100 ageing cycles was the treatment
that most modified physical properties of roofing tiles. Porosity reduction provided by
carbonation can be responsible for mechanical properties improvement while
accelerated carbonation reduced tiles apparent void volume (AVV) by approximately
20%. Significant water absorption reduction and carbonated roofing tiles densification
suggested the effective carbon dioxide absorption as well as the formation of
44

additional hydration products in the cement matrix. An estimated 15% reduction of
cellulose fiber-cement porosity after its accelerated carbonation was also reported
elsewhere [24].
The maximum load (ML) supported by roofing tiles did not experience a significant
reduction after accelerated ageing cycles. These results are considerably above the
425 N limit as recommended in [25] for 8 mm thick tiles. Ageing did not cause
significant decrease in ML and toughness (TE) of roofing tiles in relation to non-aged
tiles tested with 28 days. Moreover, ML and TE were superior to those found in
preceding works with roofing tiles produced by vibration. ML and TE values around 550
N and 1.6 kNmm, respectively, for roofing tiles reinforced with 2% by volume of
unrefined coir, sisal macro-fibers and eucalyptus waste pulp at 28 days of age were
reported in [8].
Pulp refinement and good dispersion in the composite seem to contribute to
homogeneous fibers distribution during roofing tiles molding, leading to better fibers
anchorage in the matrix and thus improving the product strength. Fibers network was
more efficient at retaining cement particles during vacuum dewatering process, hence
providing suitable packing during the pressing stage as well as more effective fibermatrix bond.
The cementitious phases of samples at each cure condition were analyzed by X-ray
diffraction so that patterns show the presence of calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, in
samples not submitted to accelerated carbonation. Conversely, Ca(OH) 2 was not
identified in fast carbonated samples. The formation of greater amount of calcium
carbonate instead of other carbonates can be associated to high percentage of calcium
(about 60%) in the ordinary Portland cement used [26]. Such result suggests a
successful CO2 adsorption in the cement based matrix while high carbonation can be
associated to the consumption of hydroxyls (OH) present within the cement matrix
due to CO2 adsorption after its diffusion into composite pores. High apparent porosity
(AVV) of roofing tiles (around 44% at 28 days) contributed to such fast diffusion [27].
Series of accelerated carbonated roofing tiles after 100 ageing cycles showed better
mechanical performance in comparison to other series, including notably higher
toughness (5.9 1.9 kNmm) and deflection at toughness (DTE = 9.1 2.5 mm) in
relation to non-aged and fast-aged series. The strength increase of aged material
achieved in [28] was attributed to calcium hydroxide elimination due to carbonation
treatment (109 days in a CO2 incubator). Mechanical performance improvement of flat
sheets reinforced with 12% by mass of Eucalyptus pulp after accelerated carbonation
and ageing cycles was presented in [24]. As reported in [29], morphology of CaCO3
crystalline state plays an important role in determining binder strength so that the
improved strength was attributed to the layered morphology of CaCO3.
5 STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPOSITES

Flat composites were fabricated in order to evaluate the performance of the fiberreinforced cement-based composites under various ageing conditions. Production
method followed the slurry vacuum de-watering process aiming at the viable
utilization of such materials in civil construction. Matrix materials were added to an
appropriate amount of moist fibers pre-dispersed in water so as to form slurries within
a 20-30% range (solid mass basis). After homogeneously stirred, slurry was
45

immediately transferred to the evacuable box. Water was drawn off under vacuum
until the pad appeared dry on the surface, whereupon it was flattened carefully with a
tamper. Pads were then pressed at 3.2 MPa for 5 min and sealed inside a plastic bag
for cure under saturated-air condition or water immersion for future mechanical tests
at a total age of 28 days.
For some formulations, further samples were prepared to evaluate their performance
after natural or accelerated ageing experiments. Tests were carried out so as to
evaluate prospective effects due to (i) matrix modification by less alkali blends, (ii)
decrease of fiber mineralization by chemical modification, (iii) improvement of fiber-tocement bonding, and (iv) decrease of the distance between fibers. Related results are
presented and discussed in the sequence.
5.1 Effects due to matrix modification by less alkali blends
In order to improve the durability of the composites, diminution of the matrix
alkalinity was attempted. The main component to produce the paste matrix was the
alkaline granulated iron blast-furnace slag (BFS) ground to 500 m2kg1 Blaine
fineness, presenting the following oxide composition (mass-basis) as provided in [30]:
SiO2 - 33.78%, Al2O3 - 13.11%, Fe2O3 - 0.51%, CaO - 42.47%, MgO - 7.46%, SO3 0.15%, Na2O - 0.16%, K2O - 0.32%, free CaO - 0.10%, and CO2 - 1.18%. In Brazil,
more than 6 million tons of basic ground-BFS (GBFS) are available every year,
generated by the steel industry [31].
For the cement production, slag must be ground to fineness at least similar to that of
the ordinary Portland cement, and it must be activated by alkaline compounds.
Gypsum for agricultural purposes and lime (calcium hydroxide) for civil construction
were elected as chemical alkali-activators for BFS respectively in proportions of 10%
and 2% (binder mass basis), as discussed in [32]. Standard commercial ordinary
Portland cement (OPC), Adelaide Brighton brand type "general purpose" (GP),
minimum compressive strength of 40 MPa at 28 days (Australian Standards AS 3972
and AS 2350.11) was adopted as the reference matrix to compare with BFS cement.
As detailed in [11], waste strand fibers generated during crop stages of both sisal
(Agave sisalana) and banana (Musa cavendishii - nanico cultivar) were initially cut to
around 30 mm in length. Via filtration from drainage lines prior to effluent biological
treatment, waste Eucalyptus grandis pulp from Kraft and bleaching stages was also
collected (at about 0.5% by mass) from a commercial production of a cellulose mill.
Aiming at cheaper price and economical viability at small-scale production (if
compared with chemical pulps), strand fibers underwent low-temperature
chemithermomechanical pulping (CTMP) in line with [33], [34]. Additionally
mechanical beating provided important internal and external fibrillation of filaments,
leading to conformable fibers and thus to fiber-matrix bonding improvement. Initial
preparation comprised soaking in cold water overnight, followed by simple and lowpollutant chemical pre-treatment based on 1-hour cooking in boiling saturated lime
liquor.
Asplund laboratory defibrator provided 103 kPa steam gauge pressure corresponding
to 121oC in presence of the pre-treatment solution with pre-steaming by 120 s and
defibration by additional 90 s. The pulp in preparation passed through a Bauer 20 cm
laboratory disc refiner equipped firstly with straight open periphery plates (one pass at
46

254 m clearance) and subsequently with straight closed periphery plates (one pass at
127 m and one pass at 76 m).
Sisal and banana pulps passed through a 0.229 mm slotted Packer screen for
separation of shaves and then through a supplementary Somerville 0.180 mm mesh
screening and subsequent washing to reduce particles with length below 0.2 mm.
Fibers shortening and fines generation are expected although undesirable results from
beating procedures can be controlled via appropriate energy applied to the stock
during the mechanical treatment [33]. Finally, the produced pulps were vacuum dewatered, pressed, crumbed, and stored in sealed plastic bags under refrigeration.
Eucalyptus grandis waste pulp was employed just as received after a 2 min
disintegration and washing in hot (nearly boiling) water using a closed-circuit pump
system.
Flexural strength around 18 MPa for 8% residual fiber-BFS composites is considered
an acceptable achievement when using mechanically pulped fibrous raw materials in
comparison with similar results [34] for sisal Kraft pulp as reinforcement of air-cured
BFS based matrices in 17 MPa and 1.4 kJm2 ranges for flexural strength and
toughness, respectively. Current results may also be considered a significant advance
over a previous work [35] using disintegrated paper reinforced OPC with flexural
strength up to 7 MPa at least 30% less than the corresponding control matrix under
dough mixing method for fabrication.
OPC-based composites performed superior mechanical strength around 21 MPa at 28
days of age associated to lower water absorption in comparison to BFS composites
with all tested fibers in 8% content. BFS matrix seemed to lack hydration
improvement, which could be achieved by high-temperature cure up to 60oC or by
adopting another alkaline activator (e.g., sodium silicate).
The high standard deviation associated with the flexural strength could be justified by
the heterogeneity of the reinforcement fibers based on the following facts:
Fibrous wastes generally present high moisture content and are thus expected to
undergo fast biological decay [36], [37], leading to weak fibers in the pulp;
Mechanical refinement often originates bunches of individual fibers mutually linked
by non-cellulose compounds (e.g., lignin). Strand fibers thus tend to perform poor
distribution in the cement matrix.
BFS composites reinforced with banana fiber showed lower values for fracture
toughness compared to both sisal and Eucalyptus grandis composites. It is a result of
high length and aspect ratio of banana fiber, which leads to a stronger anchorage in
the matrix and to the predominance of fiber fracture during mechanical test before
any further fiber displacement could occur. Twisted and bent fibers reinforce the idea
of optimum interaction between both phases as well as of high energy dissipation
during fiber pullout. Such favorable microscopic behavior explains the suitable
compromise between flexural strength (21.7 MPa) and toughness (0.792 kJm2) for
8% sisal CTMP in OPC.
As also concluded in similar research [38], [34], density, water absorption, and
porosity are interrelated properties. Low densities are preferable to reduce
transportation costs; however they are normally connected to higher water absorption
values with the inconvenient increase of the self-bearing load during utilization and to
47

risk of excessive permeability. As a reference, Brazilian standards (NBR 12800 and
NBR 12825) limit water absorption to 37% (mass basis) for fiber-cement corrugated
roofing sheets.
5.2 Effects of fiber modification by fiber mineralization
Eucalyptus Kraft pulp fibers were submitted to chemical treatment in order to reduce
their hydrophilic character. The procedure for surface treatment of Eucalyptus pulp
fibers and the option for silanes were based on studies developed in [39]. The silanes
employed were methacryloxypropyltri-methoxysilane (MPTS) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), in a proportion of 6% by mass of cellulose pulp. Silanes were
pre-hydrolyzed during 2 h under stirring in 80/20 volume basis ethanol-distilled water
solution. Cellulose pulp was introduced (5% by mass) followed by further 2 h of
stirring. Composites were prepared by the same procedure as described in the
previous section, using 5% by mass of (untreated or treated) pulp in rhe matrix
composed by 85% of OPC and 15% of carbonate filler.
Effect of treating pulp fibers on their mineralization was analyzed using scanning
electron microscope (SEM) and back-scattered electron (BSE) detector to view cut and
polished surfaces. BSE images allow easy identification of composite phases via atomic
number contrast. In composites with untreated and APTS treated pulp fibers, one
observes that the majority of lumens were filled up with reprecipitated products from
cement hydration, while in composites with MPTS treated pulp fibers, fiber lumens are
free from hydration products.
At 28-days cure, composites with APTS silaned pulp presented significantly higher
modulus of rupture (MOR) than composites with untreated pulp or MPTS silaned pulp
whereas toughness of the composites was not influenced by the silane treatment.
Similar results for composites reinforced with silane-treated fibers were found in [40],
[41]. Average MOR values notably decreased after 200 ageing cycles for composites
with either treated or untreated fibers compared to those after 28 days cure. MOR
differences after ageing were not observed between composites with treated or
untreated fibers. The fact that MPTS-treated pulp did not present fibers filled up with
products from cement hydration seems to influence the higher toughness of the
corresponding composites after 200 ageing cycles. For untreated and APTS-treated
pulps, composite capacity to absorb energy was markedly decreased most likely due
to the reprecipitation of hydration products into fibers permeable voids with
consequent composite embrittlement.
The chemical composition of virgin pulp fibers seems to exert significant influence on
composites durability as well. Lignin is an amorphous chemical species with high
solubility in alkaline medium and its removal is the essential part of pulping process
[4]. Further lignin extraction from pulps is normally referred to as bleaching
treatment. Bleaching of eucalyptus pulp fibers improve adhesion between fibers and
matrix; however it makes fiber more susceptible to mineralization as it extracts
compounds from fiber cell wall structure.
5.3 Effects due to the improvement of fiber-to-cement bonding
One possible treatment to enhance mechanical performance of composites reinforced
with cellulose pulp is the refining process, which is carried out in the presence of
48

water, usually by passing the suspension of pulp fibers throughout a disc refiner
composed by a relatively narrow gap between rotor and stator [42], [43]. Cellulose
fibers are intrinsically strong and refinement improves their ability to be processed,
which is necessary if the composite is manufactured using Hatschek production
method [44]. The main effect of refinement in cellulose fiber structure as a result of
mechanical treatment is the fibrillation of fibers surface [45]. These fibrillated and
short fibers are responsible for the formation of a net inside the composite mixture
with the consequent retention of cement matrix particles during de-watering stage of
manufacturing process. Better fiber-matrix interface adhesion and mechanical
performance can be achieved by increasing the specific surface area of the fiber, by
reducing the fiber diameter and producing a rough surface proportioning better
mechanical anchorage in the matrix [44].
Poor adhesion occurs when using unrefined sisal pulp fibers, which depicts void sizes
up to 3 m at the interface between fiber and matrix. In composites with refined pulp
fibers, external layers were partially pulled out from cell wall after refining and these
external layers then improve fibers anchorage into the cementitious matrix. The
refined fiber-cement paste bond seems to be stronger than the unrefined fiber-cement
paste bond, as asserted in [46]. The large superficial contact performed by refined
cellulose pulp has enhanced the mechanical performance and has improved the load
transfer from matrix to fibers [47].
The state of the surface structure of vegetable pulp fibers may vary due to their
natural source or due to the pulping process. Roughness of unrefined and unbleached
Eucalyptus and Pinus pulps were evaluated via atomic force microscopy (AFM). The
surface of Eucalyptus fibers presented some fibrillar structure in most samples. In
Pinus fibers, typical surface structure was granular, possibly related to amorphous
non-carbohydrates (lignin and extracts) in the fiber surface. Fibrillar surface structures
of Eucalyptus fibers suggest a higher potential for Eucalyptus fibers to anchorage in
the cement matrix.
Similar to the procedure previously cited, the interface between pulp fibers and
cement matrix was analyzed utilizing SEM-BSE. In composites cross-sections after
accelerated ageing cycles show improved interface of Eucalyptus fibers compared with
Pinus fibers. A subsequent mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analysis evidenced a
higher content of larger pores (withn the 1000-3000 nm range) in composites
reinforced with Pinus fibers. One might then attribute such result to voids in the
corresponding fiber-matrix interface.
5.4 Effects due to the decrease of the distance between fibers
Mechanical properties of fiber-cement composites are very sensitive to the uniformity
of fibers volume distribution (dispersion) whereas the distance (spacing) between
fibers is a critical geometrical parameter for composites performance [48]. As a rule,
cracks initiate and advance from a composite section that has larger fiber-free matrix
regions and fiber clumping [49]. Crack initiation requires less energy with the
enlargement of matrix regions that are not reinforced by fibers and such phenomenon
becomes more pronounced in view of the progressive cement matrix embrittlement
throughout its ageing.
49

Likely to be more homogeneous in length, eucalyptus pulp presents shorter fibers
(0.83 0.01 mm) than Pinus pulp (2.40 0.09 mm). As the use of short fibers might
lead to higher number of fibers per volume or weight in relation to long fibers, the
former may reduce fiber-free areas, i.e., the distance between fibers. Additionally, the
smaller the fiber length is (which usually refers to lower aspect ratio), the easier the
fiber dispersion becomes [50]. Bridging fibers share and transfer the load to other
parts of the composite, which increases both composite MOR and toughness.
Calculated fiber spacing is at least two times higher for Pinus fibers relative to
eucalyptus ones for the same volume fraction of reinforcement [48]. Furthermore, due
to their longer length, fibers in Pinus pulp are prone to cling to one another, thus
jeopardizing the reinforcement in the case of greater volume fractions.
6 CONCLUSION
Non-conventional building materials have been extensively investigated as an
alternative option for cost-effective housing in developing countries. The present study
addressed and discussed some agroindustrial residues or wastes that are likely to
provide a suitable and sustainable solution.
Both waste sisal and banana chemithermomechanical pulps (CTMP) were suitable for
cement composite manufacturing via laboratory method similar to counterpart
processes broadly used in commercial scale. Residual Eucalyptus grandis Kraft pulp
presented similar behavior during the fabrication steps of fiber-cement with the
advantage of being already available in pulp form and at relatively low costs in
comparison to the traditional softwood pulps. The incorporation of these waste fibers
at 8% by mass into the matrix based on blast-furnace slag (BFS) resulted in
composites with fracture strength approximately 18 MPa slightly lower than the
correspondent materials based on ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Both 12% (mass
basis) incorporation of sisal and Eucalyptus grandis into BFS composites rendered
tough composites (approximately 1.2 kJm2 of toughness), which is a reasonable
performance if compared to previous investigations carried out on sisal chemical pulp
as reinforcement for BFS composites.
Microstruture analysis depicted the importance of proper linkage between composite
phases, providing the coexistence of fiber fracture and pullout. Such major outcome
could then explain the strength sustained as well as better toughness results achieved
by sisal CTMP composites in comparison to corresponding performance of banana
CTMP composites. Physical properties indicated poor packing of high-content fiber
composites with the consequent low density and high water absorption values, despite
within acceptable standard limits. Both proposed waste fibers utilization and
mechanical pulping methods together with low-energy cements as blast-furnace slag
are likely to represent an attractive option for asbestos-free fiber-cements in the near
future.
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53
Functional Cellulose Beads

Pedro Fardim, Nasir Ali and Peter Rosenberg
Lab. of Fibre and Cellulose Technology, bo Akademi University, Turku/bo, FI20500
pfardim@abo.fi
Abstract
Cellulose is a versatile biopolymer with large availability and suitable for utilization in a broad
range of functional materials. Cellulose 3D objects such as beads and particles can be prepared
by regeneration/coagulation of cellulose solutions using a spinning atomizer device. This
technique allows the tailoring of size, shape and morphology of cellulose particles. However, the
tailoring of chemical and surface chemical properties of beads and particles require utilization of
derivatizing reactions or sorption of chemicals in a post treatment step. In this work, we present
a new method to prepare functional cellulose beads and particles by co-regeneration of cellulose
and cellulose derivatives in a single step. Cellulose xanthate (CX) and carboxymethyl cellulose
(CMC) solutions were blended together in varying proportions. These blends were used to
prepare functional beads by coagulation/regeneration in an acid bath using a designed spinning
atomizer device. The beads were characterized by investigating the total charge measurements,
thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), degree of swelling, water retention value, hydroscopic
behavior and particle-size distribution. The results obtained were compared with the cellulose
beads prepared from pure CX. Our results proved that the addition of CMC lead to a tenfold
increase in total charge of beads and therefore affecting interactions with water and cationic
polymers. The utilization of blends for preparing beads was suggested to tailor the functionality
of the beads for various applications.
Key words: Cellulose, cellulose derivatives, anionic groups, swelling, water retention
1 Introduction
Cellulose beads are porous spherical particles with a wide range of applications. They
are suitable for stationary phase in chromatographic techniques [1], carriers for
fertilizers and drugs [2,3], substrates for immobilization of enzymes [4] and bacteria
[5] and numerous other technological purposes. Beads can be prepared from synthetic
or biomaterials depending on the purpose and properties needed. Cellulose is a
preferred option for biotechnological applications due its biodegradation and
abundance. Cellulose beads have usually been prepared by using cellulose xanthate
(CX) as a precursor. Additionally, different cellulose and cellulose derivative solutions
are appropriate to be used as raw material depending on the bead preparation
54

process. The method of spinning disk atomization (SDA) has been successfully applied
to produce beads with controlled properties such as size, shape or porosity [6].
However, the chemical functionalization of beads still remains a challenge. The
influence of chemical modification on the cellulose bead properties has been studied
and it was suggested that the swellability and hardness of this material could be
altered via addition of carboxymethyl (CM) and diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)
functionalities [7]. The CM functionalised beads can be prepared by various strategies:
(i) using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a precursor, (ii) sorption of CMC onto CX
beads and (iii) addition of CM groups to cellulose beads in heterogeneous conditions.
In this investigation, we have used CX and CMC blends in different proportions as a
starting material in order to make beads by atomizing the thick solution using the SDA
method. The resulting beads were coagulated/regenerated in an acid bath containing
20% (w/w) sodium sulfate. The beads were further characterized by investigating the
total charge measurements, weight-loss with temperature gradient (TGA), degree of
swelling, water retention value, hydroscopic rate and particle-size distribution.
2 Experimental
A technical CX solution [cellulose concentration, 7.2% (w/w); NaOH, 4.5% (w/w);
falling ball viscosity 48 seconds (23.5 oC)] was obtained from Visko Ltd. Finland. CMC
[(CEKOL 700), 99.5% NaCMC content (dry basis), DS, 0.77 and mol.wt. 280,000
approx.] was supplied by CP kelco Ltd. Finland. CX, containing 7.2% (w/w) cellulose
was diluted with 4.4% (w/w) NaOH solution, up to a cellulose concentration of 4.5%
(w/w). 5% (w/w) CMC aqueous solution was prepared by adding small amounts of
CMC powder into a beaker containing distilled water (at 30oC) with vigorous stirring.
The addition should be slow enough to keep the particles separated but fast enough to
not let the solution swell too fast. Few drops of ethanol were added during stirring to
avoid agglomeration of CMC. After the preparation of the above mentioned CX and
CMC solutions according to the desired concentrations, four different blends of CX/CMC
solutions were prepared by blending CMC solution [CMC concentration, 5% (w/w)] in
varying proportions [0% (w/w), 5% (w/w), 25% (w/w) and 50% (w/w)] with CX
solution [cellulose concentration, 4.5% (w/w)]. Each blend was prepared using
mechanical stirring till a homogeneous mixture was obtained. CX/CMC blended beads
were prepared by making use of the SDA device. Four different sets of beads were
obtained and they are designated according to the blends used in their preparation as,
B0, B5, B25 and B50 for [0% CMC (w/w)], [5% CMC (w/w)], [25% CMC (w/w)],
and [50% CMC (w/w)], respectively. After the preparation, each set of bead was
washed thoroughly to remove the residues of acid by monitoring the conductivity of
the filtrate until a value below 2 S/cm was achieved. The following beads properties
were characterized: particle size distribution by image analysis, hygroscopic rate,
degree of swelling, water retention value, thermo gravimetric analysis and total
charge by methylene blue (MB) sorption.
3 Results and Discussion

The MB sorption isotherms of SDA prepared beads containing different amounts of
CMC showed that the total charge increased with the dosage of CMC used in the
blends (Fig.1). The increase in MB sorption was up to nearly 9 times the original value
55

observed when no CMC was added. That was an apparent indication that CMC
deposited on cellulose surfaces during the regeneration process or after water removal
from the beads. The results of water retention value, degree of swelling and
hygroscopic rate also increased significantly with the dosage of CMC in the beads
(results not presented here). Furthermore, the thermogravimetric analysis confirmed
that CMC contributed to increase the content of water in the bead structure. Higher
dosages of CMC also affected the particle size distribution leading to smaller beads
than with no CMC addition.
Sorbed MB
(m ol/g)
Sorbed MB
(mol/g)
B0
B5
120
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
Free MB in solution (m ol/L)
Sorbed MB
(m ol/g)
120
12
16
20
24
28
32
Free MB in solution (mol/L )
Sorbed MB
(m ol/g)
B25
250
250
200
200
150
150
100
100
50
50
B50
0
2
3
4
5
Free MB in solution (m ol/L )
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Free MB in solution (m ol/L)
Fig. 1 MB sorption isotherms of beads containing 0 % (B0), 5% (B5), 25% (B25) and
50 % (B50) of CMC.
Our results proved that the addition of CMC to CX solution prior the preparation of
particles by SDA was a feasible strategy to tailor the bead total charge and
interactions with water. We still need to investigate the bead nanostructure in order to
understand how CMC is assembled in the cellulose network. Other tailored cellulose
derivatives can also be used in this strategy to enable the design of multifunctional
cellulose beads.
4 References
1. Roy I., Pai, A., Lali, A et al.: Bioseparation 8, 317-326 (1999).
2. Bagi, A. Farago, J., Meiszel, L. et al: Patent Application HU90-36819900126.
56

3. Wolf, B.: Pharmazie 47, 204-207 (1992).
4. Chen, L., Tsao, G.: Bioechnol. Bioeng. 19, 1463-1473 (1977).
5. Sawayama, S., Rao, K., Hall D.: J. Fermentation Bioeng 86, 517-520 (1998)
6. De Oliveira, W., Glasser, W.: J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 61, 81-86 (1996).
7. Ishimura, D., Morimoto, Y., Saito, H.: Cellulose 5, 135-131 (1998).
57
New Methods for Extraction of

Polysaccharides
Pedro Fardim, Nina Lindstrm, Risto Korpinen, Marjo Lukkarinen and Jan
Gustaffson
Lab. of Fibre and Cellulose Technology, bo Akademi University, Turku/bo, FI20500
pfardim@abo.fi
Abstract
The foundation of a new bio-based economy requires the building of a new knowledge-based
industry. The greener chemical production starting from renewable resources and exploitation of
biological systems is nowadays an emergent stream. Large old and new information on the use
of natural resources in different economy fields is available. However, among bio-based
resources, polysaccharides were rather neglected and they are less present in hot applications
such as nanotechnology/multifunctional materials. Polysaccharides comprise 70-80% of all plant
biomass, the predominant resource of renewable material on earth. They show various naturally
occurring micro- and nanostructures; the most impressive example is the arrangement of
cellulose/hemicellulose/lignin in the plant cell wall. In general, fibres and polysaccharides are
multifunctional allowing a broad range of strategies for chemical and physical modification.
Through these modifications, new and novel advanced functional materials for various
applications may be produced. However, to make full advantage of fibres and polysaccharides,
new concepts for disassembly, functionalization and re-assembly are needed. In this
presentation we will discuss the new and state-of-the-art concepts for creating biomass-based
functional materials from a perspective combining chemistry and chemical engineering. We will
focus on new and novel methods to extract cellulose and hemicelluloses from wood biomass and
their potential to chemical modification and assembly of functional materials. Microfibrilar
cellulose, cellulose nanorods, hemicelluloses films will be presented and critically discussed
regarding their advantages and limitations. New extraction methods based on water, ionic
liquids (ILs), hydrotropic solutions and supercritical fluid extractions will be also presented and
discussed. A concept to integrate the removal of hemicelluloses to the pulp and paper
production was critically evaluated and the effects on fibre properties will be presented.
Highlights on synergistic cooperation with Brazilian partners to advance the creation of biomass
based functional materials will be given. Complementary research activities in the areas of
cellulose chemistry and technology, fractionation technology, fibre based functional materials
and nanoscale characterization is suggested.
Key words: Biomass, cellulose, nanocellulose, xylan, fractionation technology, surface chemistry.
58
Pozzolanic Reactivity of Powder Brick

Luciane F. Ribas a, Maria Rita P. Carvalho a, Jo Dweck b,
Guilherme C. Cordeiro c, Eduardo M. R. Fairbairn a, Romildo D.
Toledo Filho a
a. COPPE/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Civil Engineering, Rio

de janeiro-RJ, Brazil, lfr2009@ymail.com
b. COPPE/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Chemistry School

Department, Rio de janeiro-RJ, Brazil
c. Universidade Estadual Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Civil

Engineering Laboratory, Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, Brazil
Abstract
The objective of this study was evaluated the influence of the use of powder brick as partial
replacement in cement based pastes. Two pastes were produced: a paste of references and a
paste containing powder brick in the cement replacement level of 20% in mass. The
water/cementitious materials ratio used was 0.4. The following tests were performed to study
the pozzolanic reactivity of powder brick in the pastes: thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray
diffraction and compressive strength. The tests were carried out in the ages of 1, 3, 7 and 28
days. The results indicated a decrease in the amount of calcium hydroxide produced in the
pastes containing powder brick in relation to the reference paste. The DRX analysis of the
pastes also showed a decrease of calcium hydroxide. Finally, the results of compressive
strength, even with 20% less than concrete, with the pastes brick showed values were very
close to the reference paste. Thus, the results of this study showed that the brick used in this
work presented pozzolanic reactivity.
Key words: pastes, powder brick, pozzolanic activity.
1 Introduction
The pozzolanic are mineral additives commonly used with Portland cement due to
improvements in mechanical and durability properties. Beyond the technological
benefits, the pozzolanic contribute to reducing the harmful effects to the environment
caused by production of cement. These finely ground materials become reactive in the
presence of cement and water. The most used pozzolanic are: active silica, fly ash and
slag from blast furnace, but these products are not generated in sufficient quantity to
reach the demand for production of cement industry in Brazil, so that option by clays
thermally activated and finely ground develop pozzolanic properties (METHA &
59

MONTEIRO, 2008). Another alternative is the residue from the ceramic industry
(bricks, tiles, blocks), (process of firing up to 950 0C) that finely ground can become a
pozzolanic material. Moreover, this residue is a problem for more than 11 thousand
companies in the sector of red ceramic due to the high rate of losses that may reach
30%, making it one more expense with its removal and destination (GONALVES,
2005). The raw material of most red ceramics industries, is the kaolinite clay type, it
is favorable to its reuse by not presenting significant differences in chemical
composition between them. But there are some variables that may influence the
degree of pozzolanic activity of residue that are generated: the temperature of
calcination, the residence time in oven and uniformity of temperature within it
(GONALVES, 2005).
According to Cordeiro (2001), the use of powder brick allows to reduce costs and time
by eliminating the stage of burning, and add value to a residue, solving an
environmental problem as to its destination. The addition of highly reactive pozzolanic
produces a greater quantity of hydrates by the consumption of calcium hydroxide.
Moreover, it contributes to the increase of imperviousness and consequently the
durability of the matrix by reducing its porosity. However, the low pozzolanic reactivity
generates lower amounts of carbohydrates. The common techniques for evaluating the
process of hydration are: optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis
techniques (TG / DTG / DTA / DSC) and resistance to compression (METHA &
MONTEIRO, 2008) (NEVILLE, 1997) (RAMACHANDRAN et al, 2002). In a differential
thermal analysis (DTA) performed with the clay soil used in the manufacture of bricks
from the city of Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ, which were used in this study, we
observed a reaction of dehydroxylation at 4950C, which can be attributed to thermal
decomposition of kaolinite, turning into metakaolinite. This reaction has combined loss
of water and can be observed in the DTG. Therefore, because the process of burning
of the brick is put in the range from 6000C to 8000C, it can be considered to be
created the necessary conditions for the presence of metakaolinite in the formation of
the brick by-product (CORDEIRO et al, 2002). According to an analysis performed in a
powder brick Thessalian, the TG and DTA curves show the following characteristic
peaks: between 1000C and 160 C appears an endothermic peak due to the adsorbed
water and the size of the peak depends on the surface area, and crystallinity of the
material, the peak between 400 0C and 7000C is attributed to dehydroxylation and
decomposition of the clay combined with water release, the third peak, at 800 C
indicates the decomposition of carbonate and other salts in the clay (RAMACHANDRAN
et al, 2002).
In analysis of TG and DTG performed in pastes containing powder brick with
replacement ranging from 10 to 40% on the mass of cement, regarding water /
materials cementations of 0.40, it was observed at 28 days that in all levels of
replacement there was a reduction in the range of 17 to 60% of the combined water of
calcium hydroxide paste on the reference (GONALVES et al, 2006). Therefore, allied
to compression test results can be said that increased resistance filler effect both on
the production of denser carbohydrate structure.
2 Materials e methods
For the production of pastes was used cement (CEM) for oil wells CPP-G (3190 kg/m)
60

composed only of clinker and gypsum (according to NBR 9831), and residue of bricks
(2620 kg/m) from a ceramic industry, located in Campos dos Goytacazes whose
temperature of burning was in the range of 600 0C to 8000C. The residue was ground in
ball mill Sonnex, 14 kg per batch and then sieved at 75 m mesh. The particle size
distribution of the CEM and powder brick (PB) was obtained by diffraction of laser
beam in the particle size analyzer Mastersizer 2000 by Malvern, which allows the
dispersion of particles with agglomeration tendency. The particle size distributions are
in Fig. 1.
Powder brick
90
Cement CPP-G
80
Medium size of
particles (d50)"
70
60
50
40
Volume (%)
100
30
20
0,1
10
14,60
16,08
10
100
0
1000
Particle size (m)
Fig. 1. Particle size distributions of CEM and PB

The dosage of reference paste (REFP) was related with w/cm of 0.40 and to ensure
their workability were used 0.20% of superplasticizer Glenium 51 BASF (1200 kg/m)
in relation to the mass of cement. For pastes with ground brick the dosage was made
with a replacement of 20% of the mass of cement. The chemical composition of CEM
and PB is detailed in Table 1, which was determined by X-ray energy dispersive
spectrometer in the fluorescence of SHIMADZU EDX-720. The CEM and PB were
properly weighed and mixed in a plastic bag, to be homogenized. The water and the
superplasticizer were the first to be placed in the blender cup. The mixer used was the
Constant Speed Mixer 30-60 by Chandler Engineering. The mixture was made in two
stages with total duration of 50 s. The first with a speed of 4000 rpm for 15 s, and
during that time was completely added, little by little, a mixture of dry cement +
powder brick. On the remaining 35 s, the speed was increased to 12000 rpm. The time
for casting the bodies-of-test was 10 minutes.
61
TABLE 1. Chemical composition of CEM and PB

Oxides(%) CEM CPP-G PB Oxides (%) CEM CPP-G
CaO
66.79
0.28
K 2O
0.52
SiO2
17.73
45.99*
SrO
0.27
Fe2O3
5.19
8.26
TiO2
0.26
SO3
5.05
1.28
MnO
0.11
Al2O3
3.93
41.22*
ZnO
0.07
PB
1.40
1.38
0.05
0.01
The specimens used for molding were cylindrical and their dimensions were 2.5 cm in
diameter and 9.5 cm in height. Were used 16 specimens, and 4 of them to each age.
Ages evaluated for compressive strength, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry were
1, 3, 7 and 28 days. The cure was achieved with the immersion in deionized water
kept at 210C 10C, until the date of the tests. The procedure described above was
also made to the reference paste (cement, water and superplastificizer). In SDT Q600
TGA / DTA / DSC Simultaneous from TA Instruments, were obtained from the curves
of thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry at a heating rate of 10.0 0C/min
until a maximum temperature of 10000C in atmosphere of nitrogen with flow of 100
mL/min, the platinum crucible. The tests were made for both compounds (CEM and
PB) and to the REFP and paste with 20% of PB (PPB20) in all ages. Samples of pastes
were prepared following the procedure of mixture described previously, and a small
amount placed in a small bag and remained stored in a desiccator until the age of
analysis. On the certain age for the analysis was removed a small portion (around 10
mg), which was processed into powder using a hammer and transferred to the crucible
inside the furnace at a temperature of 250C. Since the beginning of the dehydration of
calcium silicate hydrated it starts up from 50 0C in the absence of free water, the
sample is subjected to a temperature of 350C before the analysis, to eliminate the
excess of free water, this way, it can determine the chemically combined water
content of all hydrates in the range of temperature between 50 0C and final
temperature on the loss of combined water of calcium hydroxide (DWECK et al, 2000).
The points were marked in the TG and DTG curves based on the steps of the reaction
of hydration of cement, which are: the first point that corresponds to the loss of free
water, the second point at 2000C, refers to the end of the ettringite and tobermorite
formation, the third and fourth points obtained by the area of the third peak of DTG
curve, being characteristic of the decomposition of calcium hydroxide, the fifth point
concerns the area of peak obtained in the range between the fourth point and the one
where the reaction of carbonation ends and the last point on the percentage of
residual mass of material (DWECK et al, 2000). The compressive strength tests were
performed in a SHIMADZU hydraulic machine of 1000 t, using a loading rate of 0.3
mm/min. The mineralogical composition of the components (CEM and PB) and pastes
(REFP and PPB20) was examined by X-ray diffraction in the Bruker D8 Focus CuK
radiation, with voltage of 40 kV and current of 40 mA, in the scanning angle (2) from
80 to 600 with step of 0.050, and time of acquisition of 1 s. The tests were performed
with the small pieces of the specimens after the compressive tests.
3 Results
For the study of the pozzolanic reactivity, the percentage of the oxides SiO 2, Al2O3 and
Fe2O3 are parameters for the classification of the NBR 12653. The percentage of
oxides in the brick was greater than 95%, higher than the minimum required by the
62

standard that is 70%, but depends on the reactivity of silicon and aluminum to meet
the related structures atomically disordered or amorphous (DWECK et al, 2009). Most
of the existing aluminum in clay is due to mineral-clays, generally the richest in
kaolinite with higher Al2O3 content can be obtained from a refractory of 46%
(RAMACHANDRAN et al, 2002). Therefore the chemical composition of the PB indicates
the presence of kaolinite in it, which may contain metakaolinite due the process of
burning, which may be evidenced by XRD and TG / DTG.
3.1 Thermogravimetry
In thermal analysis of a pure CEM, the final residue corresponds to the oxides of the
cement. In the analysis done with the paste (CEM + water), the final residue should
have the same oxides of the pure CEM, since the water is removed with increasing
temperature, so the data must be compared based on the residual mass of pure CEM,
where all points of the curve will be divided by the residual mass of pure CEM. As the
curves were all in relation to their initial masses, firstly was necessary to divide all
points by their residual masses, this way the curves were related to their calcined
bases, so that from this moment was calculated the percentage of oxides of pure CEM
from these points (CUNHA et al, 2008). In mixtures containing pozzolanic was
necessary to calculate the percentage of residual oxides proportional to the amount of
CEM in the mixture, so it was identified the residual mass of PB in the analysis only
with the PB. This way, the total residue of pozzolanic mixture was withdrawn with
respect to the percentage of CEM oxides. The figures presented below refer to the
analysis of TG and DTG curves of the mixtures in this study. The Fig. 2 refers to the
pure CEM, and the points marked on the curve are the same set for the pastes. The
presence of calcium hydroxide in pure CEM indicates that there was some degree of
hydration, probably due to storage problems. The presence of calcium carbonate
means that calcium hydroxide decarbonated, possibly to have come into contact with
air over a long period. The point marked the end of the TG curve and corresponds to
the percentage of residual mass at 10000 C, referring to the oxides of the CEM
(DWECK et al, 2000). The Fig. 3 refers to the analysis TG, DTG and DTA held in PB.
The point marked on the TG curve corresponds to the residue of burned brick at
10000C. The baseline is not well defined, but it was possible to identify some reactions
in the DTA curve, as the endothermic peak between 100 and 2000C on the loss of
adsorbed water. The acute endothermic peak at 5750C is characteristic of crystals of
quartz. The exothermic peak at 9750C preceded an endothermic peak is considered as
the nucleation of mullite, the endothermic peak occurs when there is a well crystallized
kaolinite. The mullite is a result of loss of structure of metakaolinite (SANTOS, 1989).
Therefore, it is possible to have metakaolinite in the PB, more precisely to say, it is
necessary to stage the subtraction of the blank, a thermal analysis carried out with
vacuum suction, so the effects are removed from the empty crucible.
63

Sample: Tijolo Moido
Size: 10.7440 mg
Method: Tijolo Moido
Comment: Tijolo Moido ( Lucianne)
File: F:...\Luciane\Cimento G _31102008.002

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 31-Oct-2008 09:00
Instrument: SDT Q600 V20.5 Build 15
100
100
0.30
TG
99.66%
DSC-TGA
File: C:...\Tijolo Moido _03112008.001

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 03-Nov-2008 08:17
TG
98
99.49%
0.5
DTG
0.25
94
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
0.20
Mass (%)
378.09C
Mass (%)
99
0.15
98
92
90
-0.02
88
DTA
86
345.51C
0.4782%
DTG
97
200
0.1
-0.04
97.76%
576.03C
0.4557%
0.00
94.23% 0.3
0.10
623.40C
Temperature Difference (C/mg)
96
0.05
84
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
Sample: Cimento G
Size: 12.0600 mg
DSC-TGA
Method: Cimento G - Materia-prima
Comment: Cimento G - Materia-prima (Disciplina Fisico-Quimica)
-0.1
82
0.00
800
1000
Universal V4.4A TA Instruments
400
600
Temperature (C)
80
0
Exo Up
Fig. 2. TG/DTG of CEM
200
400
600
Temperature (C)
-0.3
800
1000
Fig. 3. TG/DTG/DTA of PB
The Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the TG and DTG curves at the age of 1 day of REFP
containing PB, respectively. In the next figures the peaks marked in the TG and DTG
followed the same procedure adopted in the curves of CEM. The analysis was done
mainly on the points taken in the third peak of the DTG, which correspond to the
decomposition of calcium hydroxide. Looking at the peak of the decomposition of
calcium hydroxide on the PPB20, there is the loss of weight found was 1.782%, while
in the REFP was 0.8068%. This means that the folder containing PB produced more
calcium hydroxide than the reference, it was only possible due to an effect called
heterogeneous nucleation mechanism, which is the accommodation of micro particles
of mineral additives in the crystals interstices of clinker by increasing the surface
area of contact, speeding up the hydration reaction that occurs in solid phase by
topochemical, forming hydrates in the largest quantity at this age (CORDEIRO, 2006).
File: Cimento _Referenca 1dia_22102008 R.001
Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 22-Oct-2008 12:38
DSC-TGA
100
Sample: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo

Size: 10.6880 mg
Method: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo
Comment: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo ( Lucianne)
4.9
TG
95
94.47%
File: F:...\Cimento+20% tijolo _31102008.001

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 31-Oct-2008 12:00
100
1.49
TG
95
DSC-TGA
1.24
90
3.9
91.84%
90.95%
DTG
85.37%
85
0.74
80
660.56C
0.49
409.34C
75
70
384.58C
0.8068%
0
200
77.22%
75.99%
2.9
75
71.67%
70
DTG
1.9
65
60
0.24
592.87C
2.342%
400
600
Temperature (C)
80.21%
80
Mass (%)
Mass (%)
0.99
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
85
90
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
Sample: Cimento -Referencia

Size: 10.1870 mg
Method: Cimento Referencia, 24 hs
Comment: Cimento referencia, 24 hsTaxa 10oC
50
-0.01
800
1000
Fig. 4. TG/DTG REFP 1 day
45
0.9
409.63C
378.29C
602.92C
1.782%
0.1121% 636.46C
55
200
400
600
Temperature (C)
-0.1
800
1000
Fig. 5. TG/DTG PPB20 1 day
Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show the TG / DTG curves of REFP and with PB at the age of 3 days
respectively. It is observed the evolution of the hydration paste by the increase of the
peak of calcium hydroxide in two pastes, characterized by the increased loss of mass
in relation to the pastes, at 1 day. It was observed that at the age of 3 days the REFP
produced a higher amount of calcium hydroxide on the PPB20. This shows that from
this age the PB contributed to reduction of calcium hydroxide.
64

Sample: Referencia 24102008
Size: 11.1170 mg
DSC-TGA
Method: Cimento ref
Comment: Cimento referencia, 72hsTaxa 10oC 24.10.2008
File: F:...\Cimento _ref 3dia_24102008.001

Operator: Edisley
Run Date: 24-Oct-2008 13:42
100
Sample: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo 72hs

Size: 10.5790 mg
Method: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo 72hs
Comment: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo 72hs ( Lucianne)
2.0
DSC-TGA
File: Cimento+20% tijolo 72hs _03112008.001

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 03-Nov-2008 11:48
100
2.95
TG
TG
95
90
420.83C
80
1.0
77.74%
75
DTG
70
80
78.94%
387.71C
2.959%
74.04%
70
1.45
60
200
0.0
800
1000
400
600
Temperature (C)
40
0.95
415.34C
50
603.46C
0.5337% 639.74C
1.95
DTG
0.5
65
60
80.77%
Mass (%)
Mass (%)
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
84.73%
85
2.45
85.49%
1.5
86.84%
381.61C
2.291%
0
200
Fig. 6. TG/DTG REFP 3 days
0.45
588.21C
0.1731% 623.46C
400
600
Temperature (C)
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
91.98%
90
-0.05
800
1000
From the age of 7 days was observed a significant increase in the production of
calcium hydroxide in paste (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). However, the PPB20 kept producing a
lower amount of calcium hydroxide on the REFP.
Sample: Referencia 28102008
Size: 11.0830 mg
DSC-TGA
Method: Cimento ref
Comment: Cimento referencia, 72hsTaxa 10oC 28.10.2008
Sample: Cimento+20% tijolo _7D 07112008

Size: 11.0070 mg
Method: Cimento+20% tijolo 7 dia
Comment: Pasta Cimento+20% tijolo 7 dias - 7102008
File: F:...\Cimento _ref 7dia_28102008.001

Operator: Edisley
Run Date: 28-Oct-2008 10:17
100
DSC-TGA
File: Cimento+20% tijolo 7 dias_07112008.001

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 07-Nov-2008 14:21
100
2.5
2.99
TG
TG
95
91.91%
95
2.0
2.49
80
426.35C
75
75.29%
DTG
1.0
89.71%
90
1.99
84.12%
85
1.49
81.87%
80
0.99
419.51C
DTG
76.62%
70
0.5
394.01C
3.141%
65
60
200
586.17C
0.4342% 634.27C
400
600
Temperature (C)
0.0
800
1000
75
70
385.97C
2.400%
0
200
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
Mass (%)
1.5
81.84%
Mass (%)
84.25%
85
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
90
0.49
598.85C
0.1204% 635.04C
400
600
Temperature (C)
-0.01
800
1000
Fig. 9. TG/DTG PPB20 7 days
At 28 days, the behavior of pastes with the PB did not kept the same trend of
increasing the calcium hydroxide than the pastes at 7 days (Fig. 10 and Fig. 11), being
the production of calcium hydroxide of the paste at 28 days being less than the one at
7 days.
65

Sample: Pasta cimento 28d
Size: 10.5200 mg
Method: Pasta cimento 28d
Comment: Pasta cimento 28d
DSC-TGA
Sample: Cimento+20% tijolo _28D 2811200

Size: 10.5110 mg
DSC-TGA
Method: Cimento+20% tijolo _28D 2811200
Comment: Cimento+20% tijolo __28 dias 28112008 Luciane
File: H:...\Pasta cimento 28d 18112008.001

Operator: mauraedisleyrosngels
Run Date: 18-Nov-2008 13:04
100
100
3.0
2.99
TG
TG
95
2.5
92.33%
2.49
95
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
2.0
83.47%
1.5
80
418.35C
87.18%
1.49
84.73%
85
DTG
0.99
418.47C
75.34%
382.32C
3.355%
70
90
1.0
DTG
75
1.99
Mass (%)
Mass (%)
86.20%
85
Deriv. Mass (%/min)
92.79%
90
65
File: Cimento+20% tijolo _28Dias _ 28112008...

Operator: Rosangela
Run Date: 28-Nov-2008 14:18
200
0.5
576.85C
0.4068% 624.65C
400
600
Temperature (C)
0.0
800
1000
80
387.64C
2.266%
75
200
0.49
523.81C
0.4194% 634.72C
400
600
Temperature (C)
78.63%
-0.01
800
1000
Fig. 11. TG/DTG PPB20 28 days
The loss in mass of calcium hydroxide is related to the loss of combined water, and it
is represented by the dehydroxylation reaction that is the following (Eq. 1):
Ca(OH)2
CaO + H2O (theoretical loss = 24,32%)
(1)
The theoretical loss is the loss considering the initial mass of 100% of the compound.
Table 2 includes the loss of CEM and pastes for each age. With the theoretical loss of
calcium hydroxide was possible to calculate the amount of this compound to the losses
obtained from the DTG curves, which are related to the initial mass of each sample.
Then, According to the method proposed by Dweck et al (2009), in order to compare
correctly results on the basis of the same composition, these masses were processed
according to mass and then calcined in the baseline on the initial mass of CEM,
according to Eq. 2 and Eq. 3.
%Ca (OH) 2
100
Mra
MC
MIC
Mrc
100
MC
(2)
(3)
Where,
MC = percentage of calcium hydroxide based on the calcined mass of sample;
Mca = percentage of calcined mass in each sample;
MIC = percentage based on the initial mass of CEM ;
Mcc = percentage of the calcined mass of CEM.
TABLE 2 Content of calcium hydroxide
Ages (days)
LM
CH
MC
MCPB
MIC
DM
0,478
1,97
2,01
1,97
0
1
0,807
3,32
3,89
3,80
1,83
3
2,959
12,17
15,65
15,30
13,33
REFP
7
3,141
12,92
17,16
16,78
14,81
28
3,355
13,80
18,32
17,91
15,94
1
1,782
7,33
10,22
12,69
12,41
10,44
3
2,291
9,42
12,72
15,79
15,44
13,47
PPB20
7
2,400
9,87
12,88
15,98
15,62
13,65
28
2,266
9,32
11,85
14,71
14,38
12,41
LM = Mass loss of curve DTG; e DM = Mass difference MIC e MIC of cement ; CH = content of
calcium hydroxide in the baseline on the water loss DTG curves and MCPB =. percentage of the
Component
CEM
66
calcined mass of PPB20
In the case of the PPB20, before turning into the initial mass of the CEM, it is
necessary to calculate how many percent of the residual mass corresponds to that
folder oxides of CEM (DWECK et al, 2009). With the values of the percentage of
residual weight of CEM and pure brick, considering the appropriate percentages in the
mixtures, obtained how much the proportion of oxides the mixture produced of each
one. Thus, it is seen that 80.58% of the mixture correspond to the oxides in the CEM
mixture with 20% of PB (Eq. 4 and Eq.5).
MC
100
80,58
MCT M
MIC
Mrc
100
MC T M
(4)
(5)
With the data in Table 2 was possible to analyze the actual percentages produced of
calcium hydroxide, due only to the effects of the addition of PB. The difference of mass
DM, observed at the age of 1 day, shows that the PPB20 produced 6 times more
calcium hydroxide than the REFP, while at 3 days, the PPB20 has produced only 1 %
more than the REFP. For the ages of 7 and 28 days was observed a reduction of
calcium hydroxide due the addition of PB. These values correspond to 8 and 22%
respectively. Through the thermogravimetric analysis was possible to verify that at 28
days the paste with the addition of PB was reduced by 22% the amount of calcium
hydroxide, presenting pozzolanic activity.
3.2 X-Ray diffraction
The purpose of the analysis pastes by XRD analysis was to identify qualitatively the
calcium hydroxide, the main indicator of pozzolanic reactivity. An analysis was also
performed with only the components which allowed observing the presence of certain
minerals and compounds that could explain the gain in strength with the pastes which
bases were powder brick. Fig. 12 represents the diffractograms of pure CEM, which
identified the presence of calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, which can be an
indicator that there has been an initial hydration of CEM.
67
Portlandite
Quartz (SiO2)
Calcite (CaCO3)
(CaO.H2O)
(CaO.H2O)
(CaO.H2O)
Fig. 12. DRX of CEM

The diffractogram of PB presented in Fig. 13 shows the presence of silica in the form
of crystals of quartz. The analysis also shows the presence of illite as the clay-mineral
of the raw material used in the manufacture of brick. On the DRX identified in the
brick is also the presence of kaolinite, this occurs when the burn of the brick was not
complete. The thermally activated kaolinite becomes metakaolinite a highly reactive
amorphous structure, so the presence of this mineral may show that PB has pozzolanic
reactivity, but the analysis must be quantitative to really justify the consumption of
calcium hydroxide.
Quartz (SiO2)
(CaO.H2O)
Kaolinite
Illite
(CaO.H2O)(CaO.H2O)
Fig. 13. DRX of PB

Fig. 14 (a) and (b) are respectively the results of DRX analysis from the REFP and with
PB at the ages of 1, 3, 7 and 28 days, in which were identified the incidence of calcium
68

hydroxide in paste , and from the intensity of the peaks can be observed that there
was a decrease of calcium hydroxide on the PPB20.
600
600
Ca(OH)2
500
500
Ca(OH)2
28 days
28 days
400
Lin (Counts)
Lin (Counts)
400
Ca(OH)2
300
7 days
Ca(OH)2
300
7 days
Ca(OH)2
200
200
3 days
100
100
Ca(OH)2
Ca(OH)2
1 days
1 days
0
0
0
100
200
2-Theta scale
Fig. 14(a). DRX of REFP 1, 7 e 28 days
300
100
200
300
2-Theta scale
Fig. 14(b). DRX PPB20 1, 3, 7 e 28 days
But it was not possible to say just with these analyses how much of CH was produced ,
and this reduction of CH can be attributed to the smaller amount of cement pastes
with brick. It was also observed that the decrease was more significant at 28 days,
and that within 1 day the intensity was the same for the reference pastes and with
brick, that is to say, that the formation of hydroxides was equal in the pastes.
3.5 Compressive strength
Fig. 15 shows the average of the compressive strength reached by the PPB20 on the
REFP at the ages of 1, 3, 7 and 28 days. What was found was that even with less 20%
of CEM, the PPB20 obtained compressive strength at all ages very closely to the REFP.
69
Compressive stress (MPa)
60
56,14
55,26
50
40,44
39,69
PPB20
40
31,92
PREF
30
26,71
20
12,87
12,18
10
0
1
28
Ages (days)
Fig. 15. Compressive stress REFP and PPB20

This indicates that the addition of PB contributed to the densification of the structure
of the paste, but it can occur in two ways: the brick reactivity has not only acting as
filler, or reacted with calcium hydroxide forming more C-S-H. Therefore the results of
compressive strength show that the PB contributed to the increase of the resistance to
compression, reaching values closely to the reference with 100% of CEM with only
80%.
4 Conclusions
By analyzing the chemical composition, the high amount of silica and alumina
suggested that these compounds could contribute to the pozzolanic activity. The
thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of 20% of powder brick in the
paste provided a 22% reduction of calcium hydroxide at 28 days, and that in the early
ages that production can be accelerated by increasing the amount of calcium
hydroxide, in a nucleation effect of micro particles produced by the addition of the
brick. The X-ray diffraction showed a qualitative reduction in calcium hydroxide at 28
days. The resistance of the pastes with brick were very close to the reference pastes,
confirming what was observed in the analysis of DRX and thermogravimetry, which
showed qualitative and quantitatively that the ground brick not only helps to increase
the compressive strength by the effect filler, but also produce C-S-H , resulting from
consumption of calcium hydroxide.
5 Acknowledgement
The authors thank CAPES, CNPq and FAPEAM by financial aid.
70
6 References
Baronio, G.; Binda, L. Study of the pozzolanicity of some bricks and clays.
Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 11, No 1, p. 41 46, 1997.
Cordeiro, G. C. Utilizao de cinzas ultrafinas do bagao de cana-de-acar e da casca
de arroz como aditivos minerais em concreto. 2006. Tese (Doutorado) Universidade
federal do Rio de Janeiro, COPPE Rio de Janeiro, 2006.
Cordeiro, G. C.; Desir, J. M.; Vaillant, J. M.M.; Toledo Filho, R.D. Caracterizao de
resduo de tijolo cermico modo para uso como aditivo mineral em concretos e
argamassas. In: 440 Congresso Brasileiro do Concreto IBRACON, Anais...Belo
Horizonte/MG, 2002.
Cordeiro, G. C.; Vaillant, J. M.M.; Desir, J. M. Resduo cermico como aditivo mineral
em concreto. In: IV Seminrio Desenvolvimento Sustentvel e a Reciclagem na
Construo Civil Materiais Reciclados e suas Aplicaes/CT-206 Meio Ambiente,
Anais... So Paulo/SP, 2001.
Cunha, A. L. C.; Gonalves, J. P.; Cartledge, F. K.; Toledo Filho, R. D.; Dweck, J.
Evaluation of the metakaolin pozzolanic reactivity in cement pastes. Materials Science
Forum. v. 591-593, p. 827-832, 2008. < www.scientific.net>
Dweck, J.; Bchler, P. M.; Coelho A. C. V.; Cartledge, F. K. Hydration of a Portland
cement blended with calcium carbonate. Thermochimica Acta, n. 346, p. 105 113,
2000.
Dweck, J.;Cunha, A.L.C., Pinto, C.A., Golalves, J.P., Bchler, P.M. Thermogravimetry
on calcined mass basis hydrated cement phases and pozzolanic activity quantitative
analysis. J. Term. Anal. Calorim. 2009. (On-line) DOI:10.1007/s10973-008-9761-0;
Farias Filho, J.; Rolim, S. J.; Toledo Filho, R. D. Potencialidades da metacaolinita e do
tijolo queimado modo como substitutos parciais do cimento Portland. Revista
Barsileira de Engenharia Agrcola e Ambiemtal, v.4, n.3, p. 437- 444, 2000.
Gonalves, J. P.; Toledo Filho, R. D.; Fairbairn, E. M. R. Estudo da hidratao de
pastas de cimento Portland contendo resduo cermico por meio de anlise trmica.
Ambiente Construdo, v.6, n.4, p. 83-94 out/dez. 2006.
Gonalves, J. P. Desenvolvimento e caracterizao de concretos de baixo impacto
ambiental contendo argila calcinada e areia artificial. 2005. 273f. (Doutorado em
Engenharia Civil) Programa de engenharia Civil, COPPE/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro.
Mehta, P. K.; Monteiro, P. J. M. Concreto. Microestrutura, Propriedades e Materiais. 3
ed. IBRACON, 2008, p. 236 239.
Neville, A. M. Propriedades do concreto. Traduo, 2 ed. Rev atual Salvador E..
Giammusso PINI, 1997
Ramachandran, R. S.; Palori, R. M.; Beaudoin, J. J.; Delgado, A. H. Handbook of
thermal analysis of construction materials. Noyes Publications/ William Andrew
Publishing, 2002, p. 293 526.
Santos, P. de S. Cincia e tecnologia de argilas, Edgard Blcher ltda. 2 ed. v. 1, 1989.
71

Turanli, L.; Bektas, F.; Monteiro, P. J. M. Use of ground Clay brick as a pozzolanic
material to reduce the alkali-silica reaction. Cement and Concrete Research, n.33, p.
1539 1542, 2003.
72
On The Issue of Education for

Sustainability
Edison Bittencourt
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas,

e_bittencourt@uol.com.br
Abstract
In this paper some issues in the teaching of important concepts to reach for a
sustainable
world are discussed, emphasizing relevant points
needed by the
engineering student, and future professional. The irreversible nature of most
phenomena observed in the real world is necessary to be presented to the student
in the first years of the undergraduate level , in place of the more traditional
approaches
concentrated on Classical Thermodynamics, which describes closed
systems,
undergoing reversible processes, associated
with the second
law
expressing disappearance of structures. Impacts of irreversibility are depletion of
natural resources and ecological damage, as we face today. Systems of major interest
in sustainability are irreversible, open, non-linear, purposive, as we have been
presenting and discussing in various courses of fundamental interest to the
Engineer. Coherent, purposive, nonlinear biological and human created production
systems are discussed . Irreversible thermodynamics is presented as an element for
the unification of a wide range of disciplines subjected to a fragmentation of a
somewhat bureaucratic nature. This integration, benefited from the enormous
development of computers, and its use in the study of nonlinear dynamics systems,
extending applications to various fields, embracing engineering, biology, ecology,
economics, and sociology, leading to familiarity with terms such as chaos, complexity,
bifurcations, and attractors. We deem as necessary modifications in curricula,
including serious concentration on irreversibility in thermodynamics; nonlinearity in
mathematics; systems theory, leading to a profound
knowledge of ecology,
integrating concepts necessary to fundament the appropriate understanding
of
sustainability.
Keywords: Thermodynamics, irreversibility, nonlinear systems, applications
1 Introduction
73

Humanity has evolved from open aggression to nature to mimicking natures way
of building hierarchical structures, and solving challenges posed by performance (
Benyus,1997) . There are impressive and illustrative examples ( The 15 Coolest
Cases of Biomimicry
internet source )
of products obtained by the study ,
understanding, and copying of nature. Sustainability is today a major issue , whose
importance and urgency for study and action grows with time, being always
present in science and technology. We consider as necessary the knowledge of
some concepts which are fundamental to understanding the issue of sustainability
, as it relates , for instance, to the dissipative structures (Prigogine,1967)
associated to all production processes in economy, which feed on low entropy ,
discharging
high
entropy. Those concepts have been ignored even in major
Universities.
In order to understand and handle the question of sustainability , we have to deal
with the nature of living beings and ecological complexity , associated with
structure creation . It is needed to consider the quantitative and qualitative aspects of
nature,
as an
hierarchycal integration of open, nonlinear, irreversible , and
purposive, systems. Those considerations demand major changes and innovation in
different academic areas. It will be discussed
selected aspects of this
educational challenge, based on impact and importance to positive ecological
attitude and awareness. Related to the theme, Classical Thermodynamics, Linear
Irreversible Thermodynamics ,and nonlinear Irreversible Thermodynamics, are
placed in a hierarchycal order
in the direction of Classical to Nonlinear
Irreversible. Classical Thermodynamics is particularly useful for closed
systems
undergoing reversible processes. It is pointed out the need for the adequate study
of nonlinear dynamical systems ( May, 1976), and Systems Theory ( Bertalanffy,1968
) . Furthermore, the study of the nature of living beings ( Ho, Mae-Wan, 2006), and
the study complex systems need to be implemented.
2.1 Discussion
Irreversible Linear
My interest in thermodynamics of irreversible processes is the result of an earlier
effort to find an adequate description of semi permeable membrane behavior, without
the use of kinetic equations based on specific models. (Katchalsky and Curran,
1974), where we considered the effective interference, through cross coefficients,
between fluxes and forces. Onsagers cross-coefficients, as pointed out by Katchalsky
(Katchalsky and Curran, 1974), introduce One of the most interesting aspects of
membrane function, the selectivity An important concept is the simultaneous
occurrence of two or more of these phenomena when they interfere, giving rise to
very interesting effects. ( Bittencourt,1975)
Well known examples of interference, is thermo-electricity, the Soret effect, Knudsen
(
flow. de Groot
de Groot, 1966) presents the phenomenological equations,
consisting of a matrix relating fluxes to thermodynamic forces.
74

We consider a matrix of fluxes, Ji, where
Ji (i = 1, 2, .....,n)
(1)
And, forces Xk, such that

Ji =
Lik Xk
( i = 1,2,.....,n)n k=1
(2)
Onsagerss theory states that if an adequate choice of fluxes and flows is made, the
matrix of phenomenological coefficients is symmetric, i. e.,
Lik = Lki
( i, k = 1,2,.......,n)
(3)
In the case of semi permeable membranes, fluxes are of volume and species, and
forces are pressure and concentrations, a reflection coefficient is given by,
Lpd
Lp
(8)
will be 1 if the membrane allows passage of the solute. = 1 if the membrane

reflects all the solute ( ideal semi permeable membrane), and = 0 if the
membrane is nonselective (like porous glass in a case of a sodium chloride aqueous
solution
Phenomenological coefficients can be translated into friction and distribution
coefficients which are convenient to physical interpretations, and to the molecular
design of membranes, as demonstrated by Kedem and Katchalsky.(Kedem and
Katckalsky, 1961) . Pusch ( Pusch , 1977) compared the solution diffusion model with
the quantitative treatment obtained with the formalism of the of irreversible
processes, and concluded that, working with cellulose acetate and commercial ionic
membranes, in the latter case representation of data was correct in a wider range of
experimental conditions such as salt concentrations and pressures.
Bittencourt (Bittencourt, 1975) and Bittencourt et al (Bittencourt et al, 1981) applied
the formalism of thermodynamic of irreversible processes to analyze the reverse
osmosis behavior of novel ionic membranes. The quantitative analysis of the results,
with basis in the frictional interpretation of the phenomenological coefficients, proved
to be coherent, and quite relevant for the molecular engineering of selective
membranes
As mentioned by Katchalsky (Katchalsky, 1974) a coordinated theory of irreversible
thermodynamics was developed based on the fundamental work of Onsager
consisting in a new branch of thermodynamics. This coordinated theory has been for
some time an established branch of Thermodynamics, with innumerous applications,
one of them presented above. With this theory the inequalities of classical
thermodynamics are replaced with equalities, resulting in thermodynamicallyfundamentated transport equations. As pointed out by Prigogine (Prigogine, 1967),
linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics is today a classical subject, limited however to
the vicinity of equilibrium.
In the far-from-equilibrium region nonlinear
75

thermodynamics introduces the concept of dissipative structures associated with the
emergence of order both in time and space.
The theory of irreversible thermodynamics includes the phenomena of creation of
structures extending beyond the conventional region of classical engineering
problems, and interest to the study of living organisms in biology, to sociology,
ecology and economy.
2.2 Far from equilibrium
The theory of irreversible thermodynamics, with far from equilibrium systems ,

includes the phenomena of creation of structures extending beyond the
conventional region of classical engineering problems and interest to the study of
living organisms in biology, to sociology, ecology and economy.
Some of the ideas we will discuss in this paper were encountered in relatively old
and excellent sources cited in texts related to thermodynamics of irreversible
processes but generally ignored in bibliographies of thermodynamics courses .
Important areas of interest related to the subject , have experienced a tremendous
growth only in recent times.
Our interest includes

concepts related to the thermodynamics of open, coherent,
purposive, and irreversible systems (OCPIS) of relevant interest also in the study of
biology, economy, sociology, and very relevant to the study of the productive units the
chemical engineer will work with.
Furthermore, the far from equilibrium approach,
... may act as an element of
unification (Glansdorf and Prigogine, 1971) bringing closer problems belonging to a
wider range of disciplines. This element of unification consists in a powerful
instrument for the engineer who is confronted by the increasing demand of
interdisciplinary, cooperative study and research work.
In biology, one of the most exciting subjects in the context of the second law, the
idea of evolution is, closely associated with an increase of organization giving rise to
the creation of more and more complex structures, (Glansdorf and Prigogine, 1971),
whereas in classical thermodynamics, as mentioned above, reigns as the law of
disappearance of structures.
According to Lotka, in biology, Evolution is the history of a system undergoing
irreversible changes (Lotka, 1956).
Georgescu-Roegen (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971) claimed ...that the nature of the
economic process viewed as a whole is purely entropic, pointing out that biology,
not mechanics is the true Mecca of the economist. However, it should be pointed out
that the highest object of the entropic view of the economic process ...is not through
76

a mathematical system which reduces everything to entropy, but instead, utilize a
broader understanding of the process to learn what aims are better for the economy
of mankind
The human being is, according to Spencer, the terminal problem of Biology and the
initial factor in Sociology (Spencer, 1961) thus establishing a bridge between these
two sciences (and establishing the common nature of biology, economy, and
sociology).
Georgescu-Roegen points out that economy is still plagued by the misleading view of
the process as the mechanistic behavior of homo economicus. causing this science to
be
criticized by its own servants
...openly and constantly.... Furthermore,
Georgescu-Roegen adds, quoting Jevons, (Jevons, 1906), that Not even wars nations
fought for the control of world natural resources awoke economists from their
slumber.
The elementary textbooks in economy still describe the process as a circular flow
between production and consumption with no outlets and no inlets (GeorgescuRoegen, 1971). By necessity they also are open, purposive systems undergoing
irreversible processes.
Referring to the systems found in biology (Glansdorf and Prigogine, 1971), and,
quoting Weiss, (Weiss, 1966), that Coherent behavior is a characteristic inherent to
those systems. Moreover a production unit behaves in a way analogous to any
biological system, when we consider Georgescu-Roegen quote of Erwin Schrdingers
idea that any life-bearing structure maintains itself by sucking low entropy from the
environment and transforming it into high entropy.
The theoretical structure of nonequilibrium thermodynamics is absolutely necessary to
the quantitative description of living beings: Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics in
Biophysics was written ( Katchalsky, 1974) to introduce students in biophysics,
physical biochemistry, and physiology to this new branch of thermodynamics.
Another important feature inherent to OCPIS is the self sustaining capacity which
assures the necessary degree of stability this constitutes
the principle of
homeostasis (Brody, 1974) - a measure of the degree of an organisms independence
of its environment due to the ability of maintain its internal environment.
Nature has to be considered as a whole if she is to be understood in detail Bunge.
As pointed out, (Glansdorf and Prigogine, 1971) in thermodynamics we are therefore,
confronted by two simultaneous, and yet apparently conflicting tendencies: dissipation
of order (as stated by the Carnot-Clausius principle), and the increase in organization
observed in Biology, Sociology, Science-Technology, and Economy. *1
77

According to Bergson (Bergson, 1963)
The deeper we go into the nature of time
the more we understand that duration means invention, creation of forms, continuous
elaboration of what is absolutely new.
It was pointed out by Georgescu-Roegen (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971), referring to
economists, that the appearance of pollution took by surprise scientists playing with
mechanistic models, who should have warned their co-workers in the technological
sciences that bigger and better washing machines, automobiles, and super-jets
must lead to bigger and better pollution.
The dramatic change in the complexity of the world economy, integrating countries of
different cultures, sociological status and wealth, demands from technological man a
more complex, global, and interdisciplinary education. The engineer will be asked to
take decisions involving concepts which have been traditionally kept outside the world
of technical man.
We are now faced by integrated global challenges including immediate attention to
ecological issues, to the urgent question of sustainability, demanding innovative
and more aggressive strategies with respect to nature , requiring significant
modifications, and evolution in education.
It should be highly considered the work of Kay ( Kay et al , 1999), who pointe
out that , The dynamics of ecosystems and human systems need to be addressed in
the context of post-normal science grounded in complex systems thinking. We portray
these systems as Self- Organizing Holarchic Open (SOHO) systems and interpret their
behaviours and structures with reference to non-quilibrium thermodynamics: holons,
propensities and canons; and information and attractors. Given the phenomena
exhibited by SOHO systems, conventional science approaches to modelling and
forecasting are inappropriate, as are prevailing explanations in terms of linear
causality and stochastic properties. Instead, narratives in the form of scenarios to
depict morphogenetic causal loops, autocatalysis, and multiple possible pathways for
development need to be considered. His elegant and extensive work in the field
goes along our view of the challenge of sustainability
3 Conclusion
The second law, generally introduced following traditional methods, with a

dependence, as pointed out by Denbigh, (Denbigh, 1971) on the use of heat engines if
based on Clausius or Poincar approaches, or of the existence of perfect gases as
demanded by the method of Plank.
According to Margeneau and Murphy (Margeneau and Murphy, 1943), In most
textbooks of thermodynamics the order of presentation parallels the historical
development of the subject, and as a result the critical student may feel the need of
a more logical and formal approach. The principle of Carathodory (C. Carathodory,
1909) based on the properties of Pfaffian differential expressions, seemed to me much
more satisfactory and rigorous compared to these historical approaches.
78

It is fundamental for the development of Thermodynamics that dU (U, Internal
energy) and dS (S, entropy) are exact differentials.
Physically, the ideal reversible process will correspond to a quasi-static process - a
dense succession of equilibrium states, (Callen, 1985), pages 95-100, observed in a
thermodynamic hyper-surface, while a real process is a temporal succession of
equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. In quasi-static processes we are dealing with
step-by-step removal of constraints and equivalent equilibrium states which depend on
the relaxation time of the system. The rate of removal of constraints and the
relaxation times determines if any thermodynamic driving force will appear thus
making the process irreversible. As stated in a report about the future of Chemical
Engineering Education (Groppe, 1985),
Thermodynamics is currently taught in
physics, chemistry (general and physical), and chemical engineering (material and
energy balances and a separate thermodynamics course). This repetition may involve
a wide disparity in nomenclature, conventions and rigor, and hence can often be more
confusing than helpful. Consolidation is recommended in the Report to be handled by
the chemical engineering faculty. The conclusions and recommendation of this report
substantiate the arguments presented in this paper.
We propose to implement the consolidation of thermodynamic teaching in engineering,
with simultaneous and substantial incorporation of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to
the curriculum. This is necessary to deal with the phenomena associated with the
increase in order observed in the far from equilibrium, nonlinear region.
Furthermore, we cannot disregard the creation of order and complexity due to
purposive processes observed in biology, sociology, and economy
In Mathematics, as pointed out by Robert M. May (May, 1976), in his excellent article
Simple Mathematical Models with very complicated dynamics, The elegant body of
mathematical theory pertaining to linear systems...tends to dominate even moderately
advanced University courses in mathematical and theoretical physics which...ill equips
the students to confront the bizarre behavior exhibited by the simplest of discrete
nonlinear systems... Furthermore, says May Not only in research but also in the
everyday world of politics and economics, we would all be better off if more people
realized simple nonlinear systems do not possess simple dynamical properties.
According to Nicolis and Prigogine the multiplicity of solutions in nonlinear systems
corresponds to a gradual acquisition of autonomy from the environment (Nicolis and
Prigogine, 1976), who pointed out that Cultural development, incorporates the duality
of deterministic-stochastic elements as demonstrated by the work of Carneiro,
(Carneiro, 1965), following Spencer, who differentiates between development
(stochastic) and growth (deterministic).
Spencer lists four factors, which can be used to describe social evolution: invention,
accumulation, diffusion, and adjustment, (Spencer, 1961). Invention (creation)
corresponds to a discontinuity, a stochastic interval, leading to a new deterministic
phase. Nicolis and Prigogine call this event order through fluctuations.
The thermodynamics of real, irreversible processes has been overshadowed in the
traditional teaching of thermodynamics where instead, classical thermodynamics is
emphasized. Alternative methods of dealing with the concepts of entropy, and
79

reversibility were briefly discussed: we believe that in these cases the mathematical
approach (as opposed to a historical approach) is absolutely superior for the
appropriate grasp of thermodynamic concepts.
In the nonlinear region we are faced with the problem of ordering: Nicolis and
Prigogine Self Organization in Nonequilibrium Systems-From Dissipative Structures to
Order through Fluctuations. ( Nicolis and Prigogine ,1977). Away from the
thermodynamic branch the tendency to chaos is substituted by the appearance of
ordered (time-space) structures, as predicted by mathematical analysis, and verified
by experiments.
Although the subjects discussed in this paper send us venturing into fields we are not
qualified to speak (Glansdorf and Prigogine, 1971)] we should not run away from this
challenge.
New courses especially in new programs in Universities are the most adequate
structure to introduce changes, and impacting innovation .
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2009

2nd Amazon Green Materials

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd Amazon Green Materials

Manaus, AM, Brazil, 2009

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

1- Materiais Verdes para Construo Civil

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Comisso Organizadora - 2nd Amazon Green Materials Meeting

Comit Cientfico 2nd Amazon Green Materials Meeting

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Vegetable Fiber-reinforced Cement Building Components: Some

5. Functional Cellulose Beads. Pedro Fardim, Nasir Ali and Peter

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Uses and alternatives: Chemical

National Institute for Amazonian Research- INPA, Manaus, AM Brazil

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Chemical properties - tools for characterization

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Figure 1- Chemical structure of the cellulose (Nascimento, 2000 adapted)

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Publication of Directed Research Projects, first edition of the PPG7-MCT [(PPDs)-PPG7,

Total extractives (%)

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Green Building Research Projects at

a. INPA / LTEE, Manaus, AM, ruy_saribeiro@yahoo.com

b. INPA / LTEE, Manaus, AM, mlene3@hotmail.com

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Fig.1 Ecological village at the Forest Reservation Adolpho Ducke, Manaus

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Fig. 2 Ecological prototype house at Bosque da Cincia, Manaus

1.2 Wood-concrete project

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2.1.2 Adaptation of the Structural Engineering Laboratory

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2.1.3 Collection of the bamboo

2.1.4 Treatment of the bamboo

2.1.5 Physical and mechanical tests of the bamboo

2.1.6 Prefabrication of the bamboo based modular structures

2.1.7 Construction of the prototype modular ecological house

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2.2 Wood-concrete project

Fig. 4 Wood deck, steel connector, and formwork

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Fig. 5 Wood-concrete beam test specimen

3 Results and Discussion on the Wood-Concrete Project

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

4.2 Wood-concrete project

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

2nd AMAZON GREEN MATERIALS MEETING

Quality Management in the recycling of

a. Universidade Federal do Amazonas,Manaus,edsandrac@yahoo.com.br