Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Cement Composites Containing PEDOT:PSS and Amorphous Metallic Fibers

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a conductive polymer that has attracted significant attention in various industries. However, studies on the application of PEDOT:PSS in cement composites are scarce. The thermal performance and mechanical properties of conductive cement composites manufactured using amorphous metallic fibers (AFs), reinforcing fibers with excellent conductivity in concrete, and the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS in various ratios are investigated in this study. When only PEDOT:PSS and a combination of AFs and PEDOT:PSS are used, the splitting tensile strength of the composite at 28 d increases by 15.4% and 38.5%, respectively, compared with that of the plain sample (without PEDOT:PSS and AFs). Additionally, the simultaneous incorporation of PEDOT:PSS and AFs significantly reduces the brittleness of cement composites. The heat-generation performance shows minimal changes when only PEDOT:PSS is used; however, when 0.6% PEDOT:PSS and AFs are used together, a temperature increase rate of 182% is observed, which is 138% better than that of the plain sample. In scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, spherical hydrates, likely comprising PEDOT, are observed in samples incorporated with only PEDOT:PSS; samples incorporated with PEDOT:PSS and AFs show hydrates with a clearer shape than those observed in the plain sample. This study is expected to open new frontiers in the design and development of high-performance additive-incorporated cement composites with unique properties for specific applications.