MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHOPPED FIBER REINFORCED CEMENT COMPOSITES MAINLY USING CARBON FIBER

This paper examines the mechanical characteristics of several different chopped fibre reinforced cement composites (RFC). The new fibres used for reinforcement are: a) PAN based high tension type (PAN-HT); b) pitch based general purpose type (pitch-GP); c) carbon; d) aramid; and e) alkali resistant fibre. Bending tests, and both compressive and tensile strength tests were carried out using composite specimens having varying fibre contents and aspect ratios. The mechanical properties of each specimen were compared. The results indicate that the tensile and flexural characteristics of every FRC tested are improved by increasing either the fibre content or the aspect ratio. The converse is true for the fibre effective coefficient. The fibre effective coefficient is smallest for PAN-HT fibre composites and highest for pitch-GP carbon composites. PAN-HT carbon chopped fibre composites (PAN-CFRC) have very high flexural strengths and elasticities, but very low toughness values. Aramid fibres are very tough but have a small elasticity range and low flexural strength. Pitch-CFRC and alkali resistant glass chopped fibre composites can be used for building materials. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 862056.