Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites
This experimental study presents the effect of different surfactants on micro-scale carbon fiber (CFs) distribution into carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC) in terms of flexural and compressive strength, stiffness, flexural toughness, and strain-sensing ability. Conducting a narra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Fibers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/6/49 |
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| author | Athanasia K. Thomoglou Maria G. Falara Fani I. Gkountakou Anaxagoras Elenas Constantin E. Chalioris |
| author_facet | Athanasia K. Thomoglou Maria G. Falara Fani I. Gkountakou Anaxagoras Elenas Constantin E. Chalioris |
| author_sort | Athanasia K. Thomoglou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This experimental study presents the effect of different surfactants on micro-scale carbon fiber (CFs) distribution into carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC) in terms of flexural and compressive strength, stiffness, flexural toughness, and strain-sensing ability. Conducting a narrative review of the literature focusing on the fibers’ separation, this paper follows a methodology introducing a combination of mechanical and chemical carbon fibers dispersion, as well as the different mixing processes (wet or dry). Three types of surfactants: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), and superplasticizer (SP), were applied to evaluate the CFs distribution in the cement paste matrix. Compressive and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and ductility of the cement-based composites (CFRC) reinforced with 0.5 wt.% CFs were investigated by three-point bending and compressive tests; flexure tests were also conducted on notched 20 × 20 × 80 mm specimens using the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (L.E.F.M.) theory. Moreover, the electrical conductivity and the piezoresistive response were determined by conducting electrical resistance measurements and applying compressive loading simultaneously. The results clearly reveal that the CFs/SP solution or the CFs’ dry incorporation led to a significant enhancement of flexural strength by 32% and 23.7%, modulus of elasticity by 30% and 20%, and stress-sensing ability by 20.2% and 18.2%, respectively. Although the wet mixing method exhibits improved mechanical and electrical conductivity performance, constituting an adequate strain and crack sensor, the authors propose dry mixing as the most economical method, in addition to the enhanced mechanical and electrical responses. The authors recommend an effective method for structural health monitoring systems combining an economical CFs insertion in cementitious smart sensors with great mechanical and self-sensing responses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:50:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77a399677f3d41c6aaffb292c4872872 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:50:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-77a399677f3d41c6aaffb292c48728722023-11-23T16:35:22ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392022-05-011064910.3390/fib10060049Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious CompositesAthanasia K. Thomoglou0Maria G. Falara1Fani I. Gkountakou2Anaxagoras Elenas3Constantin E. Chalioris4Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.T.), 67100 Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.T.), 67100 Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.T.), 67100 Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.T.), 67100 Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.T.), 67100 Xanthi, GreeceThis experimental study presents the effect of different surfactants on micro-scale carbon fiber (CFs) distribution into carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC) in terms of flexural and compressive strength, stiffness, flexural toughness, and strain-sensing ability. Conducting a narrative review of the literature focusing on the fibers’ separation, this paper follows a methodology introducing a combination of mechanical and chemical carbon fibers dispersion, as well as the different mixing processes (wet or dry). Three types of surfactants: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), and superplasticizer (SP), were applied to evaluate the CFs distribution in the cement paste matrix. Compressive and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and ductility of the cement-based composites (CFRC) reinforced with 0.5 wt.% CFs were investigated by three-point bending and compressive tests; flexure tests were also conducted on notched 20 × 20 × 80 mm specimens using the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (L.E.F.M.) theory. Moreover, the electrical conductivity and the piezoresistive response were determined by conducting electrical resistance measurements and applying compressive loading simultaneously. The results clearly reveal that the CFs/SP solution or the CFs’ dry incorporation led to a significant enhancement of flexural strength by 32% and 23.7%, modulus of elasticity by 30% and 20%, and stress-sensing ability by 20.2% and 18.2%, respectively. Although the wet mixing method exhibits improved mechanical and electrical conductivity performance, constituting an adequate strain and crack sensor, the authors propose dry mixing as the most economical method, in addition to the enhanced mechanical and electrical responses. The authors recommend an effective method for structural health monitoring systems combining an economical CFs insertion in cementitious smart sensors with great mechanical and self-sensing responses.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/6/49carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC)micro-scale carbon fibers (CFs)mechanical propertiescarboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)superplasticizer (SP) |
| spellingShingle | Athanasia K. Thomoglou Maria G. Falara Fani I. Gkountakou Anaxagoras Elenas Constantin E. Chalioris Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites Fibers carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC) micro-scale carbon fibers (CFs) mechanical properties carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) superplasticizer (SP) |
| title | Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites |
| title_full | Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites |
| title_short | Influence of Different Surfactants on Carbon Fiber Dispersion and the Mechanical Performance of Smart Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites |
| title_sort | influence of different surfactants on carbon fiber dispersion and the mechanical performance of smart piezoresistive cementitious composites |
| topic | carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC) micro-scale carbon fibers (CFs) mechanical properties carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) superplasticizer (SP) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/6/49 |
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