Deterioration of bonding capacity of plasma-treated polymer fiber reinforcement

0500480 - FZÚ 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Trejbal, J. - Nežerka, V. - Somr, M. - Fládr, J. - Potocký, Štěpán - Artemenko, Anna - Tesárek, P.
Deterioration of bonding capacity of plasma-treated polymer fiber reinforcement.
Cement and Concrete Composites. Roč. 89, May (2018), s. 205-215. ISSN 0958-9465. E-ISSN 1873-393X
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2015088
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : polymer fiber reinforcement * chemical bonding * cold plasma treatment * pull-out strength * contact angle
OECD category: Civil engineering
Impact factor: 5.172, year: 2018

Bonding between reinforcing fibers and a brittle cementitious matrix is the key ingredient for a ductile concrete production. Oxygen plasma treatment proved to be a promising technique for increasing the fiber surface adhesion to liquids, but a question about the stability of activated bonding when exposed to atmospheric conditions arises. We present a study on deterioration of such treatment in time for different fibers commonly used as dispersed reinforcement. A microscopy investigation allowed to observe changes in the fiber surface morphology, while the changes in chemical bonds were detected by XPS analysis. To quantify the impact of plasma treatment and its deterioration, WCA measurements and pull-out tests were carried out. The results indicate that the exposure to atmospheric conditions has a negligible impact on fiber bonding, because surface roughening plays a major role. Therefore, fibers need not be incorporated into a concrete mix immediately after their treatment.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0292542