JOURNAL OF

COM P OSITE
Article MATE R IALS

Journal of Composite Materials

2015, Vol. 49(5) 509–517
Mechanical properties of Posidonia oceanica ! The Author(s) 2014
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DOI: 10.1177/0021998314521254
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L Alle`gue, M Zidi and S Sghaier

Abstract
This paper presents an optimization of the mechanical properties of cement–Posidonia composite by means of
experimental characterization. We are interested in producing composite of cement reinforced by Posidonia raw
fibers. The ratio of fibers and water-to-cement mass is varied to determine its effect on the mechanical properties of
the cement– Posidonia composite, particularly, its resistance to fracture. Three point bending and compression tests
were carried out to study the mechanical properties of the composite. Scanning electron microscopy was used to
examine the surface of the tested samples. The experimental investigation shows an improvement of flexural strength
for a ratio W/C equal to 0.5 and fiber content equal to 10 vol%.

Keywords
Posidonia oceanica fibers, cement, composite, mechanical properties

Introduction Several factors can influence the properties of

cements reinforced by natural fibers. They include the
Although the use of natural fibers in construction
fiber type, geometry, fiber surface roughness, matrix
applications dates back to centuries ago (roofs,
properties, blending process, drying method, etc. 2
surfaces for insulation),1 only in the last few decades
Posidonia oceanica, a marine biomass, which is
their application for the reinforcement of rigid matrices
lignocellulosic, renewable, light, and inexpensive fiber
has been scientifically proven. In fact, thanks to their
can be exploited to reinforce cement matrix and to
properties (mechanical, thermal, acoustical, etc.), these
consider new industrial application. In fact, the
materials become widely used for reinforcement and
availability of large quantities of such fibers and the
insulation applications. Nevertheless, the development
well-known mechanical properties are a general
of such materials must take into account environmental
prerequisite for the successful use of these materials.
considerations.
A review of the literature concerning Posidonia fibers
The thermal and acoustical insulation properties of
shows a lack of technological investigations of these
these materials lead to substantial energy savings. 1 The
fibers, notably when used in cement composite.
reinforcement material must have good intrinsic
The marine type of these fibers exists naturally in large
properties (module of elasticity, geometry, etc.) and a
quantities on the Mediterranean coastline. Posidonia fibers
compatibility with the cement matrix, while being cost
are likely to consolidate the cement materials with
effective.
properties found in the classical fibers.
Considerable industrial efforts have been made to
The objective of this paper is to show the promising
exploit the flora rich in natural and marine fibers.
properties of the cement composite. We investigated
Natural fibers are used as reinforcement in composites
experimentally the effect of waterto-cement (W/C) ratio
using cement matrix. Previous researches tended to
and the level to reinforcement by Posidonia fibers on the
determine the mechanical, thermal, and acoustical
mechanical properties of cement using both three point
properties of cements reinforced by natural fibers
bending and compression tests.
such as hemp,2,3 flax,4 bagasse,5 coir,6 sisal,7,8 etc.
The behavior of the material changes substantially
following the fracture of the matrix.

Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering, University of Monastir, National

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510
School of Engineering of Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Corresponding author:
L Alle`gue, Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Monastir, National School of Engineering of Monastir 5000, Tunisia.
Email: lamis.allegue@laposte.net
Introduction and characterization of
Posidonia fibers
Raw materials
P. oceanica is a submarine plant found on beaches in the
form of balls, which are agglomerates of fibers (Figure
1(a)). Posidonia balls were harvested in autumn from
Monastir bay (Tunisia). They were mechanically crushed
to extract fibers (Figure 1(b)). Then, these fibers were
washed thoroughly with water to remove sand and
impurity. Finally, they were dried in an oven at a
temperature of 30C for 48h and then stored.
Scanning electron microscopy
ZEIXX field emission scanning electron microscope
(SEM) was used for the examination of fiber and
composite microstructure. For morphological and textural
characterization of the P. oceanica fibers, external and
transversal observations were carried out. For microscopic
microstructure examination of the composites, cross-
section along the longitudinal direction with different
thickness was prepared.
Chemical composition
Natural fibers are biological structures composed mainly
of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.9 In a smaller
proportion, fibers contain extractable proteins and some
inorganic compounds.10
In order to determine the chemical composition of
Posidonia fibers, a succession of extractions was carried
out to isolate different substances contained in the material
(waxes, pectin, hemicelluloses, and lignin). Protocols are
presented in the literature. 3,11–13 Fibers are treated by
Figure 1. (a) Posidonia oceanica balls, (b) P. oceanica fibers.
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Journal of Composite Materials 49(5)
ethanol under agitation at 80C for 20min to eliminate
waxes. Then, they were treated twice with boiling water
and twice with ammonium oxalate solution to remove
pectin. Lignin is extracted in two steps in a mixture of
chlorite of sodium and glacial acetic acid. Hemicelluloses
are dissolved in a solution of potash and then in a sodium
hydroxide solution. After extraction in soda, the cellulosic
residue is estimated as follows
% cellulose ¼ 100%% ðwaxes þ pectin
þ lignin þ hemicellulosesÞ11:13
Preparation and characterization of
Posidonia fiber–cement composites
Manufacturing composites
Portland cement type CEM II/A-L 32.5R was used to
elaborate composites cement reinforced with raw
Posidonia fibers with various contents between 5 and
20 vol %. Prismatic specimens with dimensions
4040160 mm3 were made from prepared mixture
according to the AFNOR NF EN 196-1 standard. First,
cement is blended with water. The W/C mass ratio is
variable; we used the following ratios: 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, and
1. Then, the weighed quantity of reinforcement is
added by supporting blending. After blending, the
mixture is poured into a mold to make specimen. The
specimen is kept at an ambient temperature for 28 days
and then put in an oven at a temperature of 50C until a
constant mass state is reached.
Mechanical characterization
Three point bending test. A three-point bending test
was carried out using a LLOYD Instrument tensile test
machine of capacity 5kN. We used specimens 28 days
old. A span of 140mm and a deflection rate of
10mm/min were used for all tests. At least 12
Alle`gue et al.
specimens were tested using a three-point bending
configuration for each composite formulation.
The values of the load and the bending were
simultaneously recorded. Assuming that the material is
homogeneous, the normal stress or the flexural strength
xx in a rectangular beam of length/between supports is xx
¼ 32 bhFl2, where F is the applied force, b and h are,
respectively, the width and the height of the beam
(Figure 2).
Compression test. For the compression tests, we used a
Shimadzu mechanical testing machine of capacity
30kN according to the AFNOR EN 196-1 standard.
Twenty-eight-day-old specimens were used (Figure 3).
The cross head speed was set at 5mm/min. The stress–
strain curves obtained from the compressive tests were
used to determine the compressive strength. At least 12
specimens were tested in compression for each
composite formulation.
Figure 2. Scheme of the flexural testing.
Figure 3. Scheme of the compression test.
Morphological characterization. Figure
4 shows the typical morphologies of the
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511
Results and discussions
Chemical and morphological characterization
Chemical characterization. The total average length for the
tested Posidonia fibers was 8.36mm, the average diameter
was 0.13mm, and the density was 0.42g/ cm 3. The
principal constituent of Posidonia fibers is cellulose
(48.39%). Other main constituents include hemicellulose
(18.91%), pectin (4.78%), lignin (23.12%), and waxes
(4.8%). Similar constituent ratios are also reported in the
literature.14 In this reference, Ncibi et al. have clearly
proved that the natural P. oceanica fibers contain
significant amount of cellulosic substance. Furthermore,
Posidonia fibers have a high amount of lignin. Thus, they
can be considered as a promising biological resource to
improve fiber–matrix adhesion in composites applications.
SEM observation should be conducted in order to
characterize the morphology of these fibers.
Posidonia fiber. Raw Posidonia fiber, noted A, similar to
all lignocellulosic fibers (Figure 4(a)), is composed of
several fibrils or technical fibers (noted B) partially linked
together by a weak pectin and lignin interphase.
Figure 4(b) displays transverse cross-sections of a
number of fibrils indicating not only the differences in
their size and shape, but also the existence of empty
spaces in the form of a hollow (noted C).
The average thickness of the wall of these fibrils varies
between 0.5 and 1mm.
In Figure 4(c), a high magnification of one of the cross-
sections shows some irregularities in section with elliptic
shape. In the center, a hollow known as lumen where
nutrients and water flow along the fiber.
Figure 4(d) shows the main features of Posidonia
fibers. The fiber has a rough surface with many
protrusions. It can be pointed out that these features are
similar to those observed in earlier studies in the case of
Piassava and Talipot fibers. 15,16 Some authors reported that
these protrusions should help the mechanical interlocking
of the fiber with the matrix in the composite.15
Properties of cement paste
To characterize the cement paste, we carried out three
point bending and compression tests after 28 days of cure,
for a selected set of W/C ratios. The flexural strength was
obtained from the maximum load and corresponding
deflection in each test.
Figure 5 represents the variation of the mean value of
flexural and compression strengths of cement paste
512 Journal of Composite Materials 49(5)

Figure 4. Scanning electron micrographs of Posidonia fibers. (a) Bundles of fibrils, (b) transverse cross-section of one fiber, (c)
fibril, and (d) longitudinal section of fiber.

Figure 5. Effect of W/C ratio on the mechanical properties of cement paste using flexural and compressive tests.

with W/C ratio. The curves show an increase of the Mechanical properties of cement–Posidonia
flexural strength by reducing the W/C ratio. In fact, fibers composites
the maximum is reached at a W/C ratio of 0.5, while

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Alle`gue et al. 513

for the compression strength it attains its maximum for Bulk density. The relationship between the bulk density a W/C
ratio of 0.6. and the fiber content depending on the W/C ratio is

Figure 6. Bulk density versus fiber content.

Figure 7. Example of flexural strength–strain curves for cement paste and Posidonia–cement composite samples (W/C ¼ 0.5).

shown in Figure 6. The density of these composites
decreases for a larger quantity of Posidonia fibers
included in the matrix. This is due to the lower density
of the fibers comparing to that of the cement paste and
to the onset of bubbles of air by fibers during mixing.
The same trend is observed, if we increase the W/C
ratio, the porosity and water absorption increases.
Flexural testing. A three-point bending test was carried
out to examine the mechanical behavior of cement
composites and to study the influence of fiber contents
on mechanical properties.
Figure 7 shows typical flexural strength–strain
curves for cement paste and a composite containing
20% volume of fibers. Compared with the cement
paste, the addition of Posidonia fiber in the
cementitious composite significantly improves the
flexural strength and ductility. The composite has a
much higher capacity to withstand the load and crack
than pure cement.
Figure 7 shows two different types of curves. The first
type consists in a flexural strength–strain curve of cement
sample having a linear elastic region which
leadstoaprematurefracturebecauseofitsfragilebehavior in

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514 Journal of Composite Materials 49(5)

traction. The second curve which corresponds to a

composite material presents two main regions:

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Alle`gue et al. 515

Region 1: The first region is linear and resembles that two sides of the crack. Initially, the fibers in the composite
of the cement sample. It seems that the matrix is are randomly oriented. During the bending test and as load
supporting the main part of the applied load. This region increases, the fibers tend to become perpendicular to the

Figure 8. Propagation of the crack in the composite during the three-point bending test.

Figure 9. SEM micrographs of sample fracture surface of Posidonia–cement composite (5 vol %) after three-point bending test.
ends with an optimum corresponding to the maximum direction of the load as it increases (Figure 9). This
flexural load with a slow propagation of crack. At this process leads to a pull-out phenomenon which disturbs the
stage, fiber–matrix interface is affected. Indeed, the first load transfer process.3
macroscopic damage in the material can be easily
observed on the sample (Figure 8). The picture shows that
some of the fibers are debonded on both sides of the
crack. We can also observe that some of the fibers link the

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516 Journal of Composite Materials 49(5)

Region 2: When maximal flexural load is reached, a W/C ratio equal to 0.5. On the contrary, the flexural
the load decreases gradually with the propagation of strength is minimal at a W/C ratio equal to 1. This is
the crack. At this stage, the presence of fibers in the due to the lower density of this composite.
composite modifies the behavior for the cement For a W/C ratio equal to 0.5, a steady increase of

Figure 10. Increase of flexural strength with decreasing the W/C ratio for cement–Posidonia composite.

Figure 11. Evolution of the compressive strength of composite cement–Posidonia for a ratio W/C ¼ 0.5.
sample. Indeed, the content and length of fibers as well
as their orientation are the main cause of the debonding
process of the fibers at the cement– matrix interface.
Therefore, no sudden failure is observed but a
continuous decrease of the load is recorded (Figure 8).
Figure 10 shows the evolution of the mean flexural
strength obtained from a three-point bending test for a
fiber content varying from 0 to 20%. Flexural strength is
shown for different W/C ratio. It can be observed that the
highest flexural strength is obtained for a composite with
flexural strength is noticed by the addition of Posidonia
fibers and reaches a maximum for 10% volume of fiber
content. This increase can be explained by the rise of the
number of fiber–matrix interfaces. Beyond this value,
flexural strength decreases. This property has already been
observed for composites with organic matrix.17 Swamy and
Mangat18 showed that flexural strength of concrete fibers
increases with fiber length and fiber content. Beyond a
certain critical value, the flexural strength decreases
quickly.

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Alle`gue et al.
The flexural strength generally increases with fiber
content until a state in which mixing becomes difficult.
Thus, the homogenization of this mixture becomes
difficult to the extent that fibers cannot be linked by the
matrix and curling up occurs. This results in an increase of
the porosity of the composite and lower fiber–matrix
cohesion.
Naaman et al.19 demonstrated that the efficiency of each
fiber reduced for a larger fiber content. In fact, fracture
strength is not being directly proportional to the rate of
fibers,20 even though some authors18 proved the opposite in
certain specific cases.
Compressive test. Compressive strength is one of the most
important properties of cement composite materials. In a
typical compression experiment, an axial force is applied
to the rectangular specimen and the compressive strength
is calculated from the value of the maximum force
recorded.
Figure 11 presents the results of the mean compressive
strength values using compression tests for fiber content
from 5 to 20% volume. Finished compression tests show
that the strength of cement samples is in the order of
7.04MPa for a W/C ratio of 0.5. The compressive strength
is improved by the addition of Posidonia fibers and
reaches a maximum for 5% volume of fiber content.
Beyond this value, the compressive strength decreases
slightly when the fiber content is increased. This is due to
the higher porosity of the mixture and consequently the
reduction of fiber– matrix cohesion.
Conclusion
The present paper shows that raw Posidonia fibers can be
used in cementitious composites as a reinforcement
material.
We investigated the effect of adding Posidonia fibers to
cement matrix on the composite performance. This study
has also confirmed that Posidonia fiber reinforced
cementitious composites have better flexural strength,
higher ductility, and lower density than conventional
cementitious materials.
Better performances are achieved with the addition of a
low percentage of Posidonia fibers in the cement matrix. It
has also been found that optimal mechanical properties are
achieved when 5–10% volume fraction Posidonia fibers
are used for a ratio W/C¼0.5.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding
agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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517
Conflict of interest None
declared.
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