Microstructural characterisation of cementitious composite incorporating polymeric fibre: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Synthetic fibres such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyethylene (PE) in both virgin and recycled forms have been widely employed in cementitious composites. Apart from providing bridging action for absorbing stress-induced energy, the addition of polymeric fibres also changes the pore systems in the microstructure of cementitious materials. This paper reviews the microstructure changes of cementitious composite incorporating these three polymeric fibres under both ambient and high-temperature condition. The microstructure of polymeric fibre reinforced concrete is characterised by higher porosity than plain concrete. The use of hydrophilic PVA fibres with microfibres in..