Abstract
High flexible lightweight composites containing tobermorite as a main mineral is produced using various amorphous silicates, lime, cement and fibers. Here, Mechanical properties of the composites were studied by observing microstructures of hydrates and fibers. Amorphous silicates having better hydraulicity retarded the crystallization of tobermorite due to better formation of C-S-H gel in water bath curing, but, difficult conversion from C-S-H gel to tobermorite in hydrothermal reaction. In the low molar ratio of CaO/SiO2 (0.67), faster crystalization was observed dued to more impurities such as Al2O3 alkali, resulting in improving mechanical properties due to small crystal size and many contact points. It was identified that a lot of calcium silicate hydates formed at surface of pulps increase bonding strength and the crack-resistance of matrix in the composites, but decrease hardness and compressive strength. The choice of amorpous silicates having better hydraulicity, low CaO/SiO2 adding each fibers bellow about 5% in the raw mixs and lower molding pressure should be needed at improve mechanical properties of composites.