Pullout tests in buriti incorporated in fiber epoxy matrix

The interface between the matrix and fiber reinforcement plays an important role in the efficiency with which a load is transmitted through the composite matrix. In this work, an assessment was performed of the interfacial shear strength of the contact area buriti fiber in epoxy resin. From pullout tests of buriti fibers embedded in epoxy resin capsules, the critical length and the interfacial strength were found and regions where the fibers have broken down or suffered slip from the resin were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed an interfacial shear strength similar to other lignocellulosic fibers and also revealed a reasonable interfacial adhesion due to the heterogeneous nature of buriti fibers, which facilitates the resin impregnation. A small critical length was found for the fiber embedded in epoxy buriti. In this way it was possible to evaluate the interfacial strength between the natural fiber and epoxy matrix.