Title: PVA Polymer Modified Glass Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Author(s): Z. Li, A. C. P. Liu, and C. K. Y. Leung

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 206

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 401-410

Keywords: ductilty, EDAX, embrittlement, fiber interface, glass fiber-reinforced cementitious composites, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), SEM, toughness

DOI: 10.14359/12265

Date: 4/1/2002

Abstract:
This report presents an experimental investigation on the effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer modified alkali resistance (AR) glass fiber reinforced cementitious composites (GFRC). The performance of the alkali resistance glass fibers in blended cementitious matrix was evaluated by a series of tensile and flexural tests. Specimens with different amounts of PVA polymer were tested. Specimens under dry air and moist curing environment were compared. The results indicate that the addition of 2% (weight)PVA polymer shows improvement in strength, toughness, ductility, and deflection. SEM studies indicated that PVA forms a thin film covering on the glass fiber surface, which inhibits the nucleation of calcium hydroxide crystals on the glass bibres surface and to enhance the formation of C-S-H during the hydration. The presence of PVA shows the ability to reduce the embrittlement of the GFRC and changes the failure mode from brittle to ductile. EDAX results shows that the Ca/Si ratio in the fiber interface of the PVA modified specimens is greatly reduced.