Search

Fast drying (~60 min) is useful for optimizing production processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs and environmental impacts, especially in red ceramic industries in Brazil. However, suitable clays are necessary and, currently, studies focused on the plastic behaviour of clays with compositions suitable for extrusion, especially for fast drying, are scarce. Therefore, in this study, three different clays from the same mineral deposit were studied for producing clay-based structural products via fast drying. The clays were characterized according to their chemical, mineralogical and thermal properties, particle size, cation-exchange capacity, specific surface area and open pore volume distribution. Ten formulations were developed using a simplex-centroid mixture design of experiments and their plasticity index (PI) values were determined. The response surfaces of the formulations were evaluated according to their PI, while the formation characteristics were determined according to their extrusion workability factor values. Formulations F5 (50.0 wt.% yellow clay and 50.0 wt.% green clay) and F8 (66.6 wt.% yellow clay, 16.7 wt.% grey clay and 16.7 wt.% green clay; PI = 15.5–16.6%) displayed optimal extrusion properties, followed by formulations F7 (33.3 wt.% yellow clay, 33.3 wt.% grey clay and 33.3 wt.% green clay) and F10 (16.7 wt.% yellow clay, 16.7 wt.% grey clay and 66.6 wt.% green clay; PI = 13.8–14.2%), which are within acceptable extrusion index values. Thus, the chosen formulations have significant potential for use in the manufacture of fast-drying red ceramics.

Chemically bonded ceramics (CBCs) obtained from industrial waste have attracted great interest in recent years. In the present work, MgO raw material was substituted with refractory MgO–C bricks waste (MgW) for CBCs. Monopotassium phosphate (KDP) and MgW were used as binder systems with varied component ratios (KDP/MgW) of 0.17–0.33 (mass basis) and waste (MgO–C) particles with D50 = 20.5 μm. Bodies containing K-struvite phase (MgKPO4·6H2O), with compressive strength ranging from 1 to 1.4 MPa, were obtained. The total porosity ranged between 60 and 74%. Air permeability tests proved the presence of interconnected pores because the coefficients k1 and k2 increased with the increasing total porosity of the samples. The leaching test showed that the waste and the samples were nonreactive, nontoxic, and nonhazardous according to the Brazilian standard. The results showed that MgW-based chemically bonded porous ceramics can be produced from MgO–C refractory brick waste via synthesis processes for using as filters.

The high level of sodium in red mud (RM) is one of the main issues hindering its incorporation as a raw material for construction and building materials. This paper presents a few studies on building materials developed using more than 70% w/w RM content. A proposed industrial process flowchart together with capital (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) for a large‐scale plant are presented here. It was estimated that the cost of processing 75 Mton of RM, over a period of 25 years, was US$ 17/ton, including CAPEX + OPEX. The products comprised pellets composed of RM and clay subjected to 1200°C in a straight‐grate kiln. The pellets can be used as road gravel, coarse aggregate in concrete, or converted into supplementary cement material for Portland cement. The collaboration of the construction and building material industry with the alumina industry will be beneficial to mitigate the environmental impacts of RM.

Hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of the bone and the main responsible for their hardness and mechanical strength. It shows enormous scientific and technological value as it presents a potential for application in medical purposes and pharmaceutical, chemical, and environmental remedy industries. Many authors have demonstrated the possibility of hydroxyapatite synthesis from different sources and synthesis methodologies. However, studies which lead to an effectively controlled crystallite size and crystallinity are still scarce. Our study aims to evaluate the effects of heat treatment temperature and high energy milling time on obtaining nanometric hydroxyapatite from a natural source. The characterization has been performed by employing thermal, chemical, structural, morphological, and surface area analysis. It has been possible to verify only hydroxyapatite formation. In the milled samples, it's been possible to verify a reduction in the crystallite size and crystallinity. The surface area increased from 0.07 to 41.37 m2/g, but excessive milling times caused agglomeration and reduced the surface area. The results showed that it is possible to synthetize nanostructured hydroxyapatite (9,8–95 nm) with crystallinity ranging from 3 to 99% from Tilapia bones. ANOVA has validated the results. The produced materials present an excellent potential for application in the biomedical or adsorption substances area.

This work attempts to evaluate the correlation between the roughness parameters and different standardized methodologies for determining the coefficient of friction of ceramic floor tiles. Eight different types of ceramic tiles were evaluated, and each one was characterized for their coefficient of friction/slip resistance in accordance with the standards NBR 13818, ANSI A137.1, and AS 4586. The surfaces were also characterized in relation to surface roughness by means of contact profilometry. The measured friction and roughness parameters were correlated by means of analysis of variance. The results showed a correlation tendency according to a third-degree equation for tests performed in wet conditions. The study results showed that the roughness parameters influence the coefficient of friction with a confidence level of 95%. Considering the safe values indicated for the respective standards for the evaluated methods, a Rz value of 25 μm ensures that a tested surface can be considered safe in a wet-condition test, regardless of the method used to determine the coefficient of friction.

Li2O–ZrO2–SiO2–Al2O3 (LZSA) glass ceramic systems are usually obtained from powder technology to obtain materials with a low thermal expansion coefficient (CTE). However, in these cases, there is a high residual porosity. An alternative to reduce the porosity involves the production of monoliths. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of crystallisation kinetics and the final properties of glass ceramic monoliths are affected such as electrical properties. This study aims to evaluate the electrical behaviour as function of the crystalline layer thickness formed on the monolith surface of a 17.7Li2O·5.2ZrO2·68.1SiO2·9.0Al2O3 (molar basis) glass ceramic LZSA composition. Monoliths thermally treated at 750, 800, and 850 °C were chosen to evaluate based on the range of the crystalline layer growth. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used for the electrical characterisation of LZSA glass and the glass ceramics. The resistivity increased with increasing thermal treatment temperature due to the formation of lithium-based crystalline phases. The electrical conductivity at 25 °C of the glass ceramic thermally treated at 850 °C decreased to 1.4 × 10−13 S cm−1 from 8.7 × 10−11 S cm−1 for LZSA glass. Based on the electrical behaviour, monoliths thermally treated at 850 °C can be considered potential for dielectric industrial applications.

Glass and bioactive glass-ceramic can be used in several applications. In bone growth where good bone/biomaterial adhesion was required, bioactive coatings for implants can improve bone formation. The glass and glass-ceramics of the LZS (Li2 O-ZrO2 -SiO2 ) system are very interesting because of their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Very recently, their biological response in contact with human osteoblast has been evaluated. However, despite several initiatives, there are still no studies that systematically assess this system's bioactivity, dissolution, and cytotoxicity in vitro. This work aims to investigate the dissolution, bioactivity behavior, and cytotoxicity of LZS glass-ceramic. LZS glass-ceramics were produced from SiO2 , Li2 CO3, and ZrSiO4 by melting followed by quenching. The obtained glass frits were milled and uniaxially pressed and heat-treated at 800 and 900°C and submitted to physical-chemical, structural and mechanical characterization. Their dissolution behavior was studied in Tris-HCl, while bioactivity was performed in simulated solution body fluid (SBF). The cytotoxicity test was performed using glass-ceramic in direct contact with mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (SC) isolated from human exfoliated deciduous teeth. Structural and microstructural analyzes confirmed bioactivity. The results show that it was possible to produce bioactive glass-ceramic from LZS, proven by the formation of new calcium phosphate structures such as hydroxyapatite on the surface of the samples after exposure to SBF. The SC viability test performed indicated that the materials were not cytotoxic at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/ml. The glass-ceramic system under study is very promising for a medicinal application that requires bioactivity and/or biocompatibility for bone regeneration.

The most commonly used ballistic ceramics (alumina, silicon carbide, and boron carbide) are compared via various performance mechanisms in this review. This work aimed to study the mechanical properties of ceramics and their role in the dynamic ballistic performance of materials to address the controversy in the literature regarding the feasibility of comparing static properties with the dynamic performance of ceramics. The best ballistic performance against the family of calibre 7.62 AP projectiles was obtained by silicon carbide, followed by alumina and boron carbide. The correlation of hardness and flexural strength with the performance of ceramics in depth of penetration tests was verified. The ballistic performance of ceramics is shown to be dependent on several properties. The microstructure of ceramics has a direct influence on all the mechanical properties. Hardness is vital in fracturing and eroding projectiles. Fracture toughness and flexural strength help the ceramic to withstand multiple impacts. The elastic modulus is related to stress wave propagation. The fracture mode is linked to the amount of energy absorbed by the ceramic. Thus, improvements in several properties are necessary for their combination to result in a more efficient ballistic ceramic.

Endodontic calcium silicate-based cement is the most used materials in root-end filling and/or repairing perforations. However, the relatively high cost associated with these cement is a drawback that necessitates improvements in their manufacturing process through the development of alternatives. This study used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction observations of the tricalcium silicate (C3S) crystalline phase to identify and quantify important parameters of hydration reactions such as the degree of hydration. A C3S reference was prepared with pure chemical reagents to develop a novel biomaterial variety of calcium silicate-based cement which was predefined to preserve the significant properties and clinical applications typical of calcium silicates. A methodology of cycled synthesis was used to obtain almost pure, highly crystalline C3S phase. With temperatures that can reach 1450–1500 °C, the thermal processing of the mixture of raw materials gives rise to thermochemical reactions of the formation of the main phases: 2CaO·SiO2 (C2S), 3CaO·SiO2 (C3S), and 3CaO·Al2O3 (C3A). The formation of the C3S phase is aided by the fusion of calcium aluminates (C3A). The use of Al2O3 and MgO as liquid phase-forming agents and the stabilization of the phases in cooling, allowed the liquid phase to provide the greatest precipitation of the C3S solid phase of interest. The X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of the highly C3S crystalline phase in the material after cooling at the end of the five thermal cycles. The results obtained indicated that such a material could be derived through bottom-up synthesis routes that aim to attain the proper balance between the C3S phase and the use of other cementitious materials.

Thermal fatigue can cause irreversible damage in aluminum alloys restricting their use in the automotive industry, despite their excellent mechanical and technological properties. The application of ceramic coating is an alternative to obtain a protective barrier to improve the wear resistance at high temperatures. However, the low melting point and high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of aluminum alloys limit the coating options. Thus, a suitable coupling feature can be obtained between aluminum alloys and a glazed coating. A glazed coating based on the aluminum borophosphate system was developed and applied onto an aluminum-silicon-copper commercial alloy. The coating was characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, hardness tests, and thermal analysis. The coupling between the glazed coating and the aluminum alloy surface was studied employing optical dilatometry and optical fleximetry. A dense, good adhesion coating and presenting adequate dilatometric coupling (effective coupling temperature of 345 °C) related to the investigated aluminum alloy was obtained at 500 °C. The good compatibility of CTE between the layers (24.54 × 10−6 °C-1 for the substrate and 14.56 × 10−6 °C-1 for the coating) led to a crack-free material. For this reason, microhardness increased from 136 (aluminum alloy) to 325 HV (glazed aluminum alloy). The glazed coating can expand the use of this alloy, improving its performance and thermal efficiency. This result suggests an enormous potential of applications in the automotive industry, for instance.

The impact of the microstructural properties of alumina on its mechanical properties is examined in this study. Furthermore, a comparison of the mechanical behaviours of alumina samples obtained by two-step and existing sintering techniques is presented. The results are rationalised by evaluating the changes in the densities and grain sizes of alumina samples. Different two-step treatments were used on commercial alumina (99.7 mass%-Al2O3 content, 0.73 μm average particle size) and compared with the existing sintering technique. Alumina powder was formed by uniaxial pressing, and the samples were treated using heat. Microstructural analyses of the samples were performed with a scanning electron microscope. The mean grain size was determined via the intercept method. Porosity was determined by the relationship between the apparent and theoretical densities of the sintered alumina. The bending strength test was performed based on ASTM 1161–13. Fracture toughness was measured based on the notch method. The microhardness test was performed using the Knoop technique. The results showed that mechanical properties of the samples prepared using two-step sintering were improved—the bending strength, fracture toughness, and Knoop microhardness increased from 286 to 303 MPa, 4.09–4.35 MPa m0.5, and 17.5–17.6 GPa, respectively—compared with those fabricated using the existing sintering technique, even with a higher porosity of 2.36% in samples obtained by two-step sintering and 1.80% in the existing sintering technique. Factorial analysis demonstrated that the temperature and holding time of the second step individually affect the relative density; however, the impact of temperature is more significant. Despite this, the interaction between temperature and holding time of the second step has the most significant impact on the average grain size.

In recent years, industries have been demanded for better disposal methods of byproducts. In addition, civil construction in Brazil has been steadily growing, necessitating the development ...

Excessive efflorescence in geopolymers can reduce their durability due to reduced compressive and tensile strength, in addition to an aesthetic problem. In this work, a new approach focused on the compositional adjustment was used to preserve the mechanical properties without efflorescence development in the geopolymers based on metakaolin (MK-G), biomass ash (BA-G), and stone cutting waste (SW-G). In the MK-G samples, the efflorescence formation was controlled by decreasing the Na2O/Al2O3 molar ratio from 1.10 to 0.90, without compromising the compressive strength (~ 16 MPa in MK-G0.9). In the BA-G tested samples, an increase in the compressive strength was observed. Similarly, for the SW-G samples, the reduction of Na2O/Al2O3 ratio (1.4–1.0) also hindered efflorescence, as well as denoted a decrease in sodium and alkalinity values in the leached extract. In addition to compositional adjustments, processing changes with the submerged water cure have proved to be an efficient alternative to prevent efflorescence development. Understanding this phenomenon and strategies to reduce the efflorescence formation potential can avoid durability problems in the use of geopolymers in building construction.

Raw pyritic waste (RPW) from South Brazilian coal deposits and pure pyritic waste (PPW) were used as catalysts for organic dyes discoloration. Samples were characterized for their chemical, morphological, and structural properties. There was a significant content of Fe and S in both samples from the presence of iron sulfide. The average particle size is 10.9 μm for RPW and 7.4 μm for PPW, demonstrating that the beneficiation process could remove the larger quartz particles, interfered in the distribution, and average particle size. Smaller particle sizes promoted a larger surface area for the PPW. The influence of the pyritic waste in dosage, H2O2 concentration, and pH was evaluated, obtaining discoloration values above 95% for 0.5 g/L of pyritic waste, 2 g/L of H2O2, and pH 4.3 for both pyritic wastes. The degradation kinetics of the Reactive Blue 21 using the raw pyritic waste obtained a dye concentration removal above 93% in 90 min, with an iron release of 5.4 mg/L into the solution. Using PPW, the dye concentration removal was over 92% in 40 min, with the iron release of 15.5 mg/L into the solution. Discoloration rate for the PPW sample is 7 times greater than the rate obtained for RPW, indicating a faster decay rate for the purified sample. A decrease in discoloration efficiency is observed for PPW after 6 cycles of use, due to the higher concentration of iron leached into the medium. From the results, it was concluded that the raw pyritic waste has excellent potential for use as a catalyst for Fenton reaction, especially for dye-containing water discoloration, thus demonstrating the excellent applicability potential of pyritc waste in the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater.

This work aims to evaluate the effects of feldspar substitution by basalt on porcelain tile composition with respect to its porosity, flexural strength, and pyroplastic deformation. Three ceramic formulations with different amounts of feldspar substituted with basalt, 50% (C1), 75% (C2), and 100% (C3), were evaluated at three different temperatures, 1200, 1220, and 1240 °C. Specifically, the effect of replacing feldspar with basalt on the pyroplastic deformation of ceramic bodies was analysed using optical fleximetry. The porosity of C1 at 1200 °C was 19.3 ± 2.9%, while that of composition C3 was 22.2 ± 0.7% at 1240 °C. The flexural strength was strongly influenced by the temperature. For C1 at 1200 and 1240 °C, flexural strengths of 11.1 ± 0.6 and 22.2 ± 1.9 MPa, respectively, were obtained. Regarding fleximetry, thermal deformation decreased with an increase in the amount of feldspar substituted with basalt. It was observed that C2 and C3 deformed less at high temperatures than the other combinations of compositions and temperature, probably owing to the lower amount of residual glass phase present during cooling. Compositions with higher substitution amounts of basalt (i.e., C2 and C3) exhibited more stable thermal behaviour than C0.

Resumo O processo Kraft gera resíduos que podem ser aplicados em diversos processos produtivos, substituindo matérias-primas comerciais, como lama de cal e areia, ricos em carbonato de cálcio e sílica, respectivamente. Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo para obtenção de cerâmicas porosas a partir da valorização desses resíduos, utilizando-se fibras poliméricas para a interconectividade dos poros. Conforme NBR 10004, os resíduos classificaram-se como não perigosos e inertes (classe II-B). Variaram-se três teores de fibras (12, 20 e 28 vol%) e três temperaturas de queima (1100, 1130 e 1160 ºC). As cerâmicas porosas confeccionadas apresentaram porosidade total de 39% a 53%, resistência à compressão de 15 a 52 MPa e tamanho médio de poros de 2,0 a 7,5 µm. Classificaram-se como cerâmicas para microfiltração, abrangendo filtração de água e gases quentes (aerossóis). A formulação com teor de 28 vol% de fibras e sinterizada a 1160 ºC apresentou melhor relação porosidade/resistência mecânica. Abstract The Kraft process generates several wastes that can be applied in various production processes, replacing commercial raw materials, like lime mud and sand, riches in calcium carbonate and silica, respectively. In this work, a study was carried out to obtain porous ceramics from the valorization of such waste, using polymeric fibers to promote the interconnectivity of pores. According to NBR 10004, the wastes were classified as non-hazardous and inert waste (class II-B). Three fiber contents (12, 20 and 28 vol%) and three different firing temperatures (1100, 1130 and 1160 °C) were tested. The porous ceramics showed a total porosity of 39% to 53%, compressive strength of 15 to 52 MPa, and average pore size of 2.0 to 7.5 μm. They were classified as microfiltration ceramics for the filtration of water and hot gases (aerosols). The formulation with a content of 28 vol% of fibers and sintered at 1160 °C showed the better porosity/compressive strength relation.

Asbestos fiber can be substituted by cellulose fiber extracted from the sugarcane bagasse. The cellulose fibers can be extracted by using a heated water bath and subsequent treatment with s...

Resumo Alumina é comumente utilizada em blindagens compostas. Apresenta baixa tenacidade à fratura e esta propriedade está relacionada à resistência a múltiplos disparos. Com o intuito de melhorar a durabilidade em campo uma alternativa seria utilizar cerâmicas multicamadas. Neste estudo foi avaliado o desempenho balístico de estruturas multicamadas à base de alumina/epóxi e o efeito da adição de fibra de vidro como material de reforço. Os resultados foram comparados com placas de alumina individual de mesma espessura total que os sistemas multicamadas. O desempenho balístico dos painéis em mosaico de Al2O3/Al foi avaliado por meio de ensaio balístico DOP (depth of penetration) com projétil 7,62 mm perfurante. Os resultados indicaram que as placas individuais apresentaram melhor desempenho. No caso das estruturas Al2O3/epóxi, a resistência balística diminuiu com a redução da espessura das lâminas de alumina e com o aumento da camada de epóxi. A fibra de vidro não apresentou efeito significativo no desempenho.

This study aim to determine the growth rates of crystallized layers and to evaluate the effects of the thickness of the crystallized layers and the intrinsic properties of formed phases, including residual stresses, on the bending strength of glass-ceramic compositions of the LZS and LZSA systems. For this purpose, commercial raw materials (Li2CO3, ZrSiO4, Al2O3, SiO2) were dry mixed and melted at 1550 °C/2 h in a Pt crucible. The glasses obtained were then annealed. Subsequently, glass samples were submitted to chemical and crystallographic analysis. The thermal behavior of the obtained materials was evaluated through dilatometric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The growth rates of the crystallized layers in the glass-ceramic compositions were calculated from measurements of the thicknesses of the crystallized layers (with the aid of optical and/or scanning electron microscopes) at 775 and 700 °C, respectively for holding times in the 480–780 min range. In order to evaluate the mechanical strength of the thermally treated samples and with different thicknesses of crystallized layers, three-point bending strength tests were performed. Residual stresses in the thermally treated samples were also evaluated from X-ray diffraction analyzes. The results showed that it is possible to obtain LZS glass-ceramics with crystallized layers containing Li and Zr silicates with thicknesses between 70 and 200 µm, which grow at a rate of 0.54 µm min−1. In the LZSA glass-ceramic, the crystallized layers containing mainly β-spodumene and Li and Zr silicates exhibited thicknesses between 33 and 53 µm which grow at a rate of 0.08 µm min−1. The formed crystalline layers significantly increased the mechanical strength of the produced glass-ceramic materials from 71.97 to 118.69 MPa for the LZS glass-ceramics and from 59.26 to 134.15 MPa for the LZSA glass-ceramics.

Waste generation is increasing in many industries. Therefore, effective measures are required to secure an environmentally sustainable and economically viable waste destination. Co-processing in clinker kilns at high temperatures and incorporation into cement matrices may stabilize many types of industrial waste. This paper presents the results of a study that characterized pulp and paper mill waste and their recycling in clinker production. Chemical characterization and estimation of the hazardous potential of lime mud, biomass ash, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge were performed in accordance with brazilian standard (NBR) 10004:2004. Biomass ash and WWTP sludge were classified as non-hazardous (class II), while lime mud was classified as hazardous (pH > 12.5, class I). These wastes were mixed (69 wt % lime mud, 29 wt % biomass ash, and 2 wt % WWTP sludge), and the resulting mixture was processed at 1455 oC to generate ‘ Ecoclinker ’. The clinker was characterized, milled, and mixed with calcium sulphate for use as an ‘Ecocement’ . Mortars were obtained and cured for periods of seven and twenty-eight days. The hardened product exhibited a mechanical strength of ~20 MPa. The leaching and pH tests indicated that these parameters were within the permitted limits, confirming that this waste-based cement was non-hazardous.

The aluminum anodizing process generates a large volume of waste composed mainly of amorphous aluminum hydroxide with chemical compatibility to be used in other industrial processes as an alternative starting raw material. This waste has several application possibilities such as the production of refractories, ceramic pigments, bricks, and many others. However, despite its potential features, its recycling process is far from well consolidated. This work highlights the most important contributions regarding Al-anodizing waste (AAW) features and their potential applications from the last 30 years. We provide the most complete and detailed characterization of AAW including chemical, physical, thermal, and microstructural analysis. The characterization analyzes were performed in a Brazilian waste sample and were compared with AAW worldwide. Additionally, our characterization results also considered differentiate previous processing; this, it many other possibilities are suggested that have not been explored thus far. The recycling feasibility of AAW is discussed according to the following criteria: classification, including legislation and standards; potentiality, including physical and chemical characteristics and purity; quantity, including production data; viability, including availability, costs regarding disposal and recycling process, and available technology for recycling; and applicability, including market opportunities. Moreover, alumina recovery from AAW and the related environmental aspects are discussed.

Glass and bioactive glass-ceramic can be used in several applications. In bone growth where good bone/biomaterial adhesion was required, bioactive coatings for implants can improve bone formation. The glass and glass-ceramics of the LZS (Li

In Brazil, the production of each ton of steel generates approximately 621 kg of waste and direct co-products. One of the components that generates a high amount of waste is the refractory material used in the steel process. So, in this study, the possibility of using MgO-C refractory waste from steel casting pots after their deterioration for the formation of chemically bonded phosphate ceramics was investigated. This work aims to study the recovery of industrial solid waste from MgO-C refractories by determining the processing conditions necessary to obtain magnesium phosphate ceramics. Three mean particle size of the waste and three potassium monophosphate:MgO ratio in the mixture were adopted. All mixtures showed the formation of the K-struvite phase and a strong relationship between the compressive strength and porosity properties. The highest compressive strength value obtained, 7.51 ± 0.24 MPa, is sufficient for use in several areas of engineering. It was also possible to statistically represent, using a quadratic model, the variation in porosity in relation to the phosphate content and particle size of the waste, obtaining porosities ranging from 14% to 25%. Taking into account this study used a waste, the evaluation of its environmental impact assumed an important role. The waste showed no appreciable toxicity, while some samples W3-20 showed toxicity to Allium cepa L. and Artemia salina. Considering the presented properties, the obtained material could be used as a structural block, filters, support for catalysts, and repair element for cement-based structures and roadways.

A study on the strength of ceramic fiber bundles based on experimental and computational procedures is presented. Tests were performed on single filaments and bundles composed of two fibers with different nominal fiber counts. A method based on fiber rupture signals was developed to estimate the amount of filament rupture during the test. Through this method, the fiber bundle true strength was determined and its variation with the initial fiber count observed. By using different load-sharing models and the single filament data as input parameter, simulations were also developed to verify this behavior. Through different approaches between experiments and simulations, it was noted that the fiber bundle true strength increased with the fiber count. Moreover, a variation of the fibers&rsquo, final proportion in the bundles relative to the initial amount was verified in both approaches. Finally, discussions on the influence of different load-sharing models on the results are presented.