Effect of carbon fiber dispersion on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 487; no. 1; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: Wang, Chuang, Li, Ke-Zhi, Li, He-Jun, Jiao, Geng-Sheng, Lu, Jinhua, Hou, Dang-She
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.07.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Carbon fibers; Cement concrete constituents; Cement-based; Cements; Dispersion; Elements distribution; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial statistics; Materials; Mechanical properties; Cement-based; Mechanical properties; Carbon fibers; Elements distribution; Dispersion; Scanning electron microscopy; Fiber reinforced cement; Compressive strength; Dispersive spectrometry; X ray diffraction; Composite material; Tensile strength; Bending strength; Fractography; Carbon fiber; Ultrasonic method
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2007.09.073

The preparation of carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites involved two-step dispersions of carbon fibers. Both steps affected greatly the mechanical properties of the composites. With the aid of ultrasonic wave, a new dispersant hydroxyethyl cellulose was used to help fiber dispersion in the first step. The fracture surface of the composites was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The distribution of major elements was analyzed by the energy dispersive spectroscopy and the composition was analyzed through X-ray diffraction. The flexural strength, tensile strength, modulus, and compression strength were measured. Results showed that the distribution of major elements varied with the variation of the fiber dispersion status. The compressive strength increased by 20%, the tensile strength was 2.4 times that of the material without carbon fibers, the modulus increased by 26.8%, whereas the flexure stress decreased by 12.9%.