Evaluation of chloride penetration in cement mortars reinforced with different proportions of recycled PET fibers

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced concrete has become a widely used alternative in construction as the fibers contribute to the reduction of cracking and improve some of the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. On the other hand, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has become one of the main sources of contamination, because it is a poorly biodegradable material, and the processes for its treatment are also highly polluting. For this reason, it is currently necessary to develop methodologies to recycle and reuse PET. Accordingly, in recent years, the use of PET fibers in the manufacture of concrete has become an alternative to reduce the environmental impact of materials. In this context, multiple studies have shown the effects of adding PET fibers on the mechanical properties of cement-based materials; however, nowadays, the influence of these fibers on durability properties has not been widely studied. For this reason, the present investigation studied the effect of the inclusion of recycled PET fibers on the chloride penetration in mortar samples. The results indicate that the inclusion of small proportions of PET fibers improves the durability properties of the mortar samples, with a small reduction in its mechanical properties.