ABSTRACT
The effect of water absorption on the mechanical performance of composites reinforced with chopped lignocellulosic fibers obtained from residues of other industrial processes, namely coir, sugarcane bagasse and wood fibers, was evaluated. The evaluation was performed using both destructive and non-destructive tests. In addition, since the visual perception of a panel used indoors is also an important aspect, the variation of the gloss of the composites was evaluated. The results obtained showed that coir composites absorb less water than sugarcane bagasse and wood fiber composites. A good correlation was observed between the amount of water absorbed and the variation of the properties. The observed behavior difference is displaced only with respect of the time due to the difference in the rate of water absorption between the composites. This difference in water absorption kinetics was related to the hygroscopicity of each fiber.
