Optimized geometries of fiber reinforcements of cement, ceramic and polymeric based composites

Abstract

The objective of this work was to modify the microstructure of carbon fabrics with mineral or organic fillers absorbed between the filaments of the fabric strands in order to optimize the composite tensile properties. The obtained mechanical properties of all composites with fillers were superior to those of the reference composite. In mineral fillers, the improvement in mechanical properties was attributed largely to an increased sleeve/core ratio, resulting mainly from a pozzolanic reaction between filler (silica) and calcium hydroxide of the cement paste products. In organic fillers, the improvement was attributed largely to good filling and the ability of the polymer to bind all the filaments within the bundle to form a single unit, such that the load is efficiently carried by all the filaments. However, these composites suffered from delamination. Silica-based fillers should be given special consideration since they provide good bonding with the cement matrix without suffering delamination.