Effect of Exposure to High Temperature on the Mechanical Properties of SIFRCCs

Abstract

Many researchers have studied explosion prevention and fire resistance of high-strength concrete mixed with organic fiber and steel fibers. The fire resistance of high-performance fiber reinforced cement composites is desirable in terms of physical and mechanical properties. However, the use of a polymer as an alternative to organic fiber has not been clearly studied. In this study, a slurry infiltration method was used to obtain slurry-infiltrated fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (SIFRCCs) specimens. Powder polymer was used instead of organic fibers during mixing of the slurry. The compressive and flexural strengths of the specimens after 1 hr of high temperature exposure according to the KS F 2257 (ISO 834) standard fire-temperature curve were measured. The addition of the polymer before and after high temperature (about 945 °C) exposure affected the strength of the SIFRCCs. The compressive and flexural strengths were decreased after exposure to high temperature in comparison with SIFRCCs without polymer because polymer create capillary pores due to melting and burning when exposure to high temperature. This minimizes the vapor pressure inside the concrete model and reduces the failure of the concrete model. The experimental results showed that the flexural strength at a high temperature for 1.0 % polymer content was the highest at 53.8 MPa. The flexural strength was reduced by 40~50% when compared to the flexural strength before high temperature exposure and comparing to SIFRCCs without polymer, the compressive strength in 1.5% polymer is lower, owing to voids that are created in the SIFRCCs after exposure to a high temperature.