Tensile Strength and Mode I Fracture Toughness of Polymer Concretes Enhanced with Glass Fibers and Metal Chips

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 9; p. 2094
• Main Authors: Salamat-Talab, Mazaher, Zeinolabedin-Beygi, Ali, Soltani, Faraz, Akhavan-Safar, Alireza, Carbas, Ricardo J C, da Silva, Lucas F M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Aggregates; Energy absorption; Epoxy resins; fracture energy; Fracture toughness; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; glass fibers; Glass-epoxy composites; Mechanical analysis; Mechanical properties; metal chips; Polyesters; Polyethylene terephthalate; polymer concrete; Polymer concretes; Polymers; semi-circular bend; Temperature; Tensile strength; Viscosity; Waste materials; Iran; metal chips; glass fibers; tensile strength; fracture energy; polymer concrete; semi-circular bend
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17092094

This study experimentally investigates the influence of metal chips and glass fibers on the mode I fracture toughness, energy absorption, and tensile strength of polymer concretes (PCs) manufactured by waste aggregates. A substantial portion of the materials employed in manufacturing and enhancing the tested polymer concrete are sourced from waste material. To achieve this, semi-circular bend (SCB) samples were fabricated, both with and without a central crack, to analyze the strength and fracture behavior of the composite specimens. The specimens incorporated varying weight percentages comprising 50 wt% coarse mineral aggregate, 25 wt% fine mineral aggregate, and 25 wt% epoxy resin. Metal chips and glass fibers were introduced at 2, 4, and 8 wt% of the PC material to enhance its mechanical response. Subsequently, the specimens underwent 3-point bending tests to obtain tensile strength, mode I fracture toughness, and energy absorption up to failure. The findings revealed that adding 4% brass chips along with 4% glass fibers significantly enhanced energy absorption (by a factor of 3.8). However, using 4% glass fibers alone improved it even more (by a factor of 10.5). According to the results, glass fibers have a greater impact than brass chips. Introducing 8% glass fibers enhanced the fracture energy by 92%. However, in unfilled samples, aggregate fracture and separation hindered crack propagation, and filled samples presented added barriers, resulting in multiple-site cracking.