Long-term performance of recycled PET fibre-reinforced cement composites

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 660 - 665
• Main Authors: Won, Jong-Pil, Jang, Chang-Il, Lee, Sang-Woo, Lee, Su-Jin, Kim, Heung-Youl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2010; Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Building materials; Cements; Chlorides; Composite reinforced concrete; Durability; Fiber composites; Fibre-reinforced cement composite; Mechanical properties; Permeability; PET fibre; Polyethylene terephthalates; Recycled; Reinforced concrete, Fiber; Service life; Sodium sulfates; South Korea; Durability; PET fibre; Fibre-reinforced cement composite
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.11.003

This study investigated the long-term durability performance of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibre-reinforced cement composites. Specifically, chloride permeability, repeated freeze–thaw, and various chemical environment tests were conducted. Five types of chemical environments were considered, alkaline, salt, CaCl 2, sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate. Recycled PET fibre-reinforced cement composite was not different from plain concrete in terms of chloride permeability. The repeated freeze–thaw test results showed excellent endurance characteristics of recycled PET fibre-reinforced cement composite. Recycled PET fibre-reinforced cement composites showed reduced compressive strength in alkaline and sulfuric acid environments. However, recycled PET fibres and recycled PET fibre-reinforced cement composites were largely unaffected by salt, CaCl 2, and sodium sulfate environments.