Title: Dispersion of electrically conductive carbon fibres in self-compacting concrete using chemical and mechanical dispersing techniques

Authors: Iftekar Gull; M.A. Tantray

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India

Abstract: In this study, the influence of the mechanical de-agglomeration of carbon fibres in the mixing water blended with methylcellulose and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid salt (SDBS) for dispersion of carbon fibres in self-compacting concrete (SCC) was studied. The mechanical energy needed for de-agglomeration was provided by churning the carbon fibres in the treated water using mechanical churner at varying speed of 1440RPM to 23000RPM. The degree of dispersion was evaluated by investigating the variations in rheological, electro-mechanical and microstructure properties of carbon-fibre reinforced SCC. It was observed that the mechanical churner at lower speed (1440RPM to 11000RPM) in the surfactant blended water successfully deagglomerated the carbon fibre filament threads without disturbing their individual morphology that resulted in better distribution of fibres in the concrete. Microstructure images further confirmed the role of mechanical mixing in improving the dispersion of fibres.

Keywords: mechanical dispersion; methylcellulose, surfactants, carbon fibre, self compacting concrete; electrically conductive concrete; carbon fibre based concrete; fresh state properties; hardened properties; microstructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2020.110527

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2020 Vol.15 No.3, pp.242 - 266

Received: 27 Jan 2020
Accepted: 15 May 2020
Published online: 22 Oct 2020 *

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