Recycled Fibers for Sustainable Hybrid Fiber Cement Based Material: A Review

• Published in: Materials Vol. 14; no. 9; p. 2408
• Main Authors: Balea, Ana, Fuente, Elena, Monte, M. Concepcion, Blanco, Angeles, Negro, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 05.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Carbon; Cement; Cement reinforcements; cement-based materials; circular economy; Concrete; Construction industry; Crack propagation; Ductility; Environmental impact; Fiber composites; fiber reinforced composites; Fibers; High density polyethylenes; hybrid composites; hybrid fiber cement; Hybridization; Mechanical properties; Physical properties; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polyvinyl alcohol; Raw materials; recycled fibers; Recycled materials; Recycling; Reinforcing fibers; Review; Sustainability; Tensile strength; Tires; Workability
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14092408

Reinforcing fibers have been widely used to improve physical and mechanical properties of cement-based materials. Most fiber reinforced composites (FRC) involve the use of a single type of fiber to improve cement properties, such as strength or ductility. To additionally improve other parameters, hybridization is required. Another key challenge, in the construction industry, is the implementation of green and sustainable strategies based on reducing raw materials consumption, designing novel structures with enhanced properties and low weight, and developing low environmental impact processes. Different recycled fibers have been used as raw materials to promote circular economy processes and new business opportunities in the cement-based sector. The valuable use of recycled fibers in hybrid FRC has already been proven and they improve both product quality and sustainability, but the generated knowledge is fragmented. This is the first review analyzing the use of recycled fibers in hybrid FRC and the hybridization effect on mechanical properties and workability of FRC. The paper compiles the best results and the optimal combinations of recycled fibers for hybrid FRC to identify key insights and gaps that may define future research to open new application fields for recycled hybrid FRC.