The Effect of PP Fiber and Textured Yarn on Flexural Properties of Cement Based Composites

Utilizing textiles including fibers, yarns, woven or nonwoven fabrics is considered as one of the most common ways for reinforcing cement based materials. In the present work the effects of using short staple polypropylene fibers and short polypropylene yarns as well as yarn texturizing on the flexural property of cement paste are investigated. For this purpose, specimens with 180*80*8mm3 dimensions containing 1.25% (by volume) staple fibers or short yarns with 6mm in length were prepared. Three point bending test was carried out on all specimens. Results showed that the flexural strength and toughness of samples reinforced by short staple fibers are 15.8% and 24% higher than the samples containing short polypropylene yarns, respectively. It was found that the flexural toughness of yarn reinforced specimens decrease with increase in yarns texturizing percentages.