Ceramics-Silikáty 52 (3) 172-182 (2008)

EFFECT OF AGING OF PET FIBRE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PET FIBRE REINFORCED CEMENT COMPOSITE

V. Machovič, J. Andertová, L. Kopecký, M. Černý, L. Borecká, O. Přibyl, F. Kolář, J. Svítilová

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres have been used as a dispersed micro-reinforcement in a cementitious matrix. The micro-reinforcement in the fibre reinforced concrete absorbs tensile strain and prevents formation of microcracks originating from concrete shrinkage. The present work has been aimed at studying the effects of aging PET fibres by alkali hydrolysis and temperature cycles on the compressive and flexural strength of the PET-cement composite. Using differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and water vapour sorption, chemical changes of PET fibres after their degradation have been characterized together with their effect on mechanical properties of the fibres and the resulting PET-cement composite. It has been found that the flexural strength of the composite has been increased by alkali hydrolysis of PET fibres in sodium hydroxide.

Keywords: Cement composite, PET fibre, Aging, Mechanical testing