Polymer Composite Materials Fiber-Reinforced for the Reinforcement/Repair of Concrete Structures

• Main Authors: George Soupionis, Pantelitsa Georgiou, Loukas Zoumpoulakis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: polymer composites; carbon fiber; reinforced concrete structures; artificial aging
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/9/2058

The present paper deals with the use of polymeric matrix composite materials reinforced with carbon fiber as concrete shear reinforcement materials. Accordingly, cement specimens were manufactured and coated with various types of carbon fabrics and epoxy resin in liquid and solid form (paste). Additionally, composite materials of epoxy resin matrix reinforced with carbon fiber fabrics were manufactured. In all the specimens, the mechanical properties were estimated; the cement samples coated with composite materials of epoxy resin matrix reinforced with carbon fiber fabrics were tested for compressive strength, while the other specimens were tested for shear and bending strength. The specimens were subjected to artificial aging through heat treatment for 8, 12 and 16 days. During the process of artificial aging, the temperature in the chamber reached the range of 65–75 °C. These composite materials exhibited high mechanical properties combined with adaptability. Both an external deterioration of the materials as well as a reduction in mechanical properties during their artificial aging heat treatment were observed. This was shown in the specimens that were not subjected to artificial aging, with an applied compression strength of 74 MPa, and after the artificial aging, there was a decrease of ~7%, with the compression strength being reduced to 68 MPa.