Commercial and recycled carbon/steel fibers for fiber-reinforced cement mortars with high electrical conductivity. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belli, Alberto; Mobili, Alessandra; Bellezze, Tiziano; Tittarelli, Francesca
• Is Part Of: Cement & concrete composites. Volume 109(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Recycling -- Conductive mortar -- Carbon fibers -- Steel fibers -- Multifunctional concrete -- Self sensing concrete; Composite-reinforced concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites de ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Béton léger -- Périodiques; Cement composites; Composite materials; Composite-reinforced concrete; Concrete; Lightweight concrete; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-9465

Abstract

Abstract: The paper aims to provide a comprehensive study on the compositional optimization of high-conductive multifunctional fiber-reinforced cement mortars (FRCMs). Therefore, the effects of three different fiber types: virgin carbon fibers (VCFs), recycled carbon fibers (RCFs), and brass-plated steel fibers (BSFs), added at a broad range of concentrations, as 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, and 1.6% by volume, on the mechanical, electrical and durability properties of FRCMs have been compared. The results showed that RCFs increase the flexural and tensile splitting strength up to 100%, whereas BSFs improve the compressive strength by 38%. Moreover, the fibers decrease both the capillary water absorption and the drying shrinkage by 39%. Electrical conductivity tests show that RCFs decrease the electrical resistivity of mortars up to one order of magnitude, in addition to a percolation threshold between 0.1 and 0.2 vol%.