Mechanical Performance of Polymer Mortar Reinforced With Surface‐Modified Agave Fibers

ABSTRACT In light of the environmental crisis, it is imperative to reduce energy consumption and the use of synthetic polymers in the production of materials. A strategic approach to achieving this objective is the transition from a linear to a circular economy. In this regard, the incorporation of natural fibers as a partial substitute for synthetic polymeric fibers presents a viable and sustainable alternative. In this work, agave fibers were subjected to a chemical treatment with a 10% NaOH solution. Subsequently, polymer mortars were produced with polyester resin, silica sand, and agave fibers (treated and untreated). Agave fiber with 2–13 mm sizes was added in concentrations ranging from 1% to 9%. The mortars were subjected to three‐point flexural and compression tests. The results show that the mechanical properties gradually decrease as the percentage of agave fibers increases. For mortars with untreated fibers, the highest values were obtained at 1% fiber content, achieving 85.5 MPa in compressive strength, 20.2 MPa in flexural strength, 3.15 GPa in compressive modulus, and 1.23 GPa in flexural modulus. These properties were further enhanced using NaOH‐treated fibers, resulting in increases of up to 15% in compressive modulus and 9.3% in compressive strength. The findings of this study, particularly the mechanical strength of mortars reinforced with treated fibers, demonstrate that the use of natural waste fibers as reinforcement in composite materials is both a viable and sustainable alternative. The achieved compressive and flexural strengths support the potential application of these mortars in both structural and non‐structural contexts.