Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Concrete Air Permeability

Abstract

The permeability of concrete to gases is of direct importance to the durability of concrete structures, because of carbon dioxide flowing through the concrete favour lime carbonation and reinforcing steel corrosion.

Mortar with and without polypropylene fibres having water/cementitious ratios of 0.30, 0.35 and 0.40 and a cement/sand ratio of 1/1 were studied. Polypropylene dosage varied from 0.1 to 0.3% by volume of cement.

The characterization of mortar permeability was made using cylindrical shaped samples (3 cm height and 15 cm diameter). These specimens were 28 days cured and then dried before the test.

The addition of fibres results in a decrease of air permeability. Variation of the water/cement ratio is of lesser importance than fiber addition.