Hybrid polyethylene/polypropylene blended fiber-reinforced cement composite

Abstract

This article reports the results of a study related to the reinforcement of mortar-based composites with newly developed polyethylene/polypropylene blended fibers. The study showed the hybrid fibers to have a mechanical/reinforcing effect in the cement-based matrix. Mechanical strengths improvements, as high as 40 ± 2%, were obtained for composites with a fiber length of 24 mm and a fiber volume fraction of 2.9%. The mechanical enhancement was associated with a strong mechanical interlocking between the fibers/cement matrix interfaces promoted by the fibers’ surface ridges and fibrillation ability. Macro/microstructure and morphological observations showed a post-cracking ductility improvement of composites by the hybrid (bridge effect) fibers, also evidenced a multi-cracking mechanism.