Treatment of polypropylene microfibers by atmospheric and low-pressure plasma – application to a reinforced cement composite containing recycled concrete

Authors

  • Jakub Ďureje Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic
  • Zdeněk Prošek Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic
  • Jan Trejbal Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic
  • Štěpán Potocký Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, Cukrovarnická 10, 162 53 Prague 6, Czech Republic
  • Radim Hlůžek Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/APP.2023.40.0022

Keywords:

atmospheric plasma, plasma modification, plasma treatment, polypropylene microfiber, oxygen plasma, wettability, fracture energy, SEM

Abstract

The effect of atmospheric and low-pressure plasma modification on polypropylene (PP) microfibers was examined. Mechanical changes on the microfiber surfaces were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Next, wettability was measured using the packed-cell method. The fibers were applied into a cement matrix containing micro-milled recycled concrete. Test specimens were made and then the dynamic modulus of elasticity was continuously measured. After 28 days were made in the test specimens central notches to a depth of 14 mm. Finally, bending tests were performed. From the results, the fracture energy of the composite material was calculated. It was proven that low-pressure plasma modification as well as atmospheric plasma modification increases the wettability of PP fibers with water. Furthermore, it was found that samples containing plasma-modified microfibers have a higher fracture energy compared to the same samples with fibers without plasma modification. Conversely, plasma modification had no effect on the dynamic modulus of elasticity.

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Published

2023-07-24

How to Cite

Treatment of polypropylene microfibers by atmospheric and low-pressure plasma – application to a reinforced cement composite containing recycled concrete. (2023). Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings, 40, 22-26. https://doi.org/10.14311/APP.2023.40.0022