Carbon-Fiber Enriched Cement-Based Composites for Better Sustainability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Global warming necessitates sustainable construction materials.
• Industrial wastes (marble dust, bottom ash) offer potential as concrete binders.
• Carbon fiber reinforcement can improve cementitious composite properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of carbon fiber and industrial waste on cement composites.
• To determine the optimal carbon fiber volume fraction for enhanced performance.
• To evaluate the durability and mechanical properties of novel cementitious composites.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of cement paste with varying carbon fiber volume fractions (0.3%–2.5%).
• Incorporation of industrial wastes: marble dust and bottom ash.
• Physical, mechanical, and durability testing (sulfate/seawater resistance) at 7, 28, and 56 days.

Main Results:

• Composites demonstrated resistance to sulfate and seawater attacks.
• 0.75% carbon fiber volume fraction was identified as optimal.
• Exceeding 0.75% carbon fiber adversely affected composite properties.
• Composites with 0.75% carbon fiber reached 48.4 MPa (marble dust) and 47.2 MPa (bottom ash) at 56 days.

Conclusions:

• The optimal carbon fiber content for cement composites incorporating marble dust or bottom ash is 0.75%.
• These novel composites exhibit promising durability and mechanical strength, contributing to sustainable construction.
• Further research into industrial waste utilization in cementitious materials is warranted.