Preparation and properties study of straw fiber cement-based composite boards with efficient formaldehyde purification function

Abstract

The study prepared reed and corn straw fiber cement-based composite boards (RSAB and CSAB) using alkali slag-fly ash cement as the matrix material and straw fiber (reed or corn) as the reinforcing material through a combination of hot and cold pressing methods. The effects of different hot-pressing temperatures and varying straw fiber contents on the mechanical properties and water resistance of the boards were studied. The results showed that both boards exhibited excellent mechanical strength, low water absorption, and minimal thickness expansion when the hot-pressing temperature was 120°C and the straw fiber content was 8%. The high-temperature hot-pressing process endowed the composite boards with outstanding advantages of high early strength and fast molding speed. The incorporation of straw fiber further improved the crack resistance and dimensional stability of the boards. The true differences in the physical and mechanical property indicators of the two boards were assessed using statistical analysis. The micro-morphology and chemical composition of the two types of boards were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Additionally, the visible light-responsive photocatalytic material SiO2/BiOX (X = Br, Cl) was applied to the surface of RSAB and CSAB to endow the boards with highly efficient formaldehyde purification capabilities. The prepared RSAB and CSAB possess the advantages of high strength and durability as well as low-carbon and energy saving, making them potential materials for indoor partition boards.