Influence of Oxygen Plasma Surface Treatment of PET Micro Fibers on Flexural Strength of Reinforced Cement Pastes
Presented work deals with PET (polyethylene terephthalate) fiber-reinforced cement pastes and cool oxygen plasma fiber surface treatment used to attain the better adhesion between fibers surface and the cement matrix. Three sets of cement paste samples were made with the same matrix (CEM I 42.5R with water to cement ratio equal to 0.4). The two sample sets contained micro fiber reinforcement varying in surface properties. One set was reinforced with unmodified fibers, while in to the other set plasma treated fibers were used. As a comparative indicator to bending response of the composite materials, four-point destructive tests were carried out. The samples reinforced with unmodified fibers exhibited deflection-softening behavior during the post-cracking phase, while samples with plasma treated fibers exhibited deflection-hardening behavior.