Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665

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Construction and Building Materials

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Long-term performance of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composites

Jong-Pil Won a,*, Chang-Il Jang a, Sang-Woo Lee a, Su-Jin Lee a, Heung-Youl Kim b
a
Department of Civil & Environmental System Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea
b
Fire & Engineering Services Research Department, Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Goyang 411-712, Republic of Korea

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This study investigated the long-term durability performance of recycled polyethylene terephthalate
Received 7 September 2009 (PET) bre-reinforced cement composites. Specically, chloride permeability, repeated freezethaw,
Received in revised form 11 November 2009 and various chemical environment tests were conducted. Five types of chemical environments were con-
Accepted 16 November 2009
sidered, alkaline, salt, CaCl2, sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate. Recycled PET bre-reinforced cement com-
posite was not different from plain concrete in terms of chloride permeability. The repeated freezethaw
test results showed excellent endurance characteristics of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement compos-
Keywords:
ite. Recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composites showed reduced compressive strength in alkaline
Durability
Fibre-reinforced cement composite
and sulfuric acid environments. However, recycled PET bres and recycled PET bre-reinforced cement
PET bre composites were largely unaffected by salt, CaCl2, and sodium sulfate environments.
2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction performance, research on the physical characteristics of PET -

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a plastic that has been used
in various products such as beverage containers since the late
1970s. The amount used has increased steadily and continuously,
but the majority of PET bottles used are now discarded, causing
major problems in terms of resource utilization and the environ-
ment [1]. In the United States, which rst began using PET bottles,
efforts have been made to recycle used PET bottles since the late
1980s, and the amount of recycling has gradually increased. Re-
search on recycling used PET bottles as construction materials
has been conducted worldwide [2,3]. One idea is to use recycled
PET bottles as unsaturated polyester resin to apply to polymer con-
crete; another is to use PET as a lling material for lightweight con-
crete [4]. Other examples include the use of PET bres as concrete
reinforcement materials [57]. In general, bre-reinforced con-
crete or mortar shows excellent performance in tensile and crack
resistance; as recycled PET bres have excellent physical charac-
teristics when used for concrete reinforcement, they are believed
to improve the mechanical properties of the concrete [57]. In par-
ticular, in the case of mortar and concrete reinforced with PET -
bres, they demonstrate excellent characteristics in suppressing
early-age crack generation [8]. However, because the surface of
used PET materials is water-resistant, adhesion performance and
dispersion with cement composition materials is poor; thus, cre-
vices and water permeation can increase at the interface of the
PET brecement matrix. To examine this problem of endurance
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 2 450 3750; fax: +82 2 2201 0907.
E-mail address: jpwon@konkuk.ac.kr (J.-P. Won).
bre-reinforced concrete exposed to an alkaline environment has
been conducted, and the results have indicated that the physical
characteristics of PET bre-reinforced concrete exposed to an alka-
line environment were good [9]. Little research, however, has fo-
cused on cement materials made with used PET bres; in
particular, we know of no prior study on the endurance character-
istics of PET bre-reinforced concrete. In this study, we evaluated
the long-term durability of recycled PET bre-reinforced concrete
using chloride permeability, repeated freezethaw, and various
chemical environment condition (alkaline, salt, calcium chloride,
sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate) tests.
2. Experimental plan and methods
2.1. Experimental plan
In this study, chloride permeability and repeated freezethaw tests of recycled
PET bre-reinforced concrete were conducted. Also, alkaline, salt, calcium chloride,
sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate environments were used to evaluate the chemical
resistance of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite and recycled PET -
bres. The recycled PET bre used was embossed; physical properties of the material
are listed in Table 1 and the mix proportions are given in Table 2.
2.2. Experimental methods
2.2.1. Chloride permeability test
A chloride permeability test of the recycled PET bre-reinforced concrete was
carried out according to ASTM C 1202-94 and AASHTO T 259. A 100  200-
mm-sized cylinder-type specimen was cured underwater at a temperature of
20 3 C for 28 days. After cutting into the middle of the specimen to a thickness
of 50 mm, it was put in a desiccator to remove air enclosed within it; after operating
a vibration pump for 3 h, it was again put into a desiccator to saturate the specimen
with water, and the pump was operated for another 1 h. Then, the vacuum pump

0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.11.003
 J.-P. Won et al. / Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665 661

Table 1
Properties of recycled PET bre.

Type Length Specic Elastic Tensile Ultimate

(mm) gravity (kg/ modulus strength elongation
m3) (MPa) (MPa) (%)
Embossed 50 1.38 10,175.4 420.7 11.2

was stopped and with the specimen fully saturated underwater, it was kept there
for 18 1 h. After completing this preparation of the specimen, it was xed on an
applied voltage (AV) cell for the water permeation experiment. After lling the plus
(+) electrode of the AV cell with a 0.3 N NaOH solution and the minus ( ) electrode
with a 3% NaCl solution, the electric current was measured for 6 h while supplying
60 V DC to the specimen. Each test was performed on two specimens and repeated
twice.

2.2.2. Repeated freezethaw test Fig. 1. Test result of chloride permeability.

The repeated freezethaw test was carried out according to ASTM C 660 after
preparing 100  100  400-mm-sized specimens in a temperature- and humidity-
controlled room at a temperature of 23 2 C and relative humidity of 50% for
14 days. A total of 300 cycles was applied and the relative dynamic elastic modulus
was measured every 30 cycles. The test results presented are the average of two test
specimens.

2.2.3. Chemical environments

An endurance performance evaluation of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement
composite was carried out in ve chemical environments: alkaline, salt, calcium
chloride, sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate. An alkaline solution was made at
pH 12.6 by mixing 0.16% Ca(OH)2 + 1% NaOH + 1.4% KOH. The salt environment
was a solution of 3% NaCl. The calcium chloride environment used a solution of
4% CaCl2. The sulfuric acid environment was 3% H2SO4, and the sodium sulfate solu-
tion was 3% Na2SO4. Compressive strength was measured by manufacturing three
100  200-mm-size specimens and digesting them in solutions for
30, 60, 90, and 120 days in each chemical environment. Each test was performed
on three samples. Additionally, the deterioration of PET bres was observed by
SEM after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days in solution.

Fig. 2. Test results of repeated freezethaw cycles.

3. Experimental results

3.1. Chloride permeability 3.3. Compressive strength after various chemical environments

The chloride permeability results for the recycled PET bre-
reinforced concrete were slightly lower than that for the control
specimen. However, both the control specimen and the recycled
PET bre-reinforced concrete specimens showed high chloride per-
meability and the difference was slight. Fig. 1 presents the chloride
permeability test results for the recycled PET bre-reinforced
concrete.
3.2. Repeated freezethaw test
The control and recycled PET bre-reinforced concrete showed
similar dynamic modulus of elasticity up to the rst 180 cycles;
after 210 cycles, however, a difference was evident, and about a
4% difference appeared at 300 cycles. Under repeated freezethaw
testing, the recycled PET bre-reinforced concrete showed slightly
better endurance characteristics compared to the control speci-
men. Fig. 2 shows the freezethaw results for the recycled PET -
bre-reinforced concrete.
Compressive strength was evaluated after digesting the recy-
cled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in ve chemical solu-
tion environments, alkali, salt, calcium chloride, sulfuric acid, and
sodium sulfate, for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The compressive
strength of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite di-
gested in salt, calcium chloride, and sodium sulfate environment
showed no change over the period of the testing; thus, it appears
that recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in salt, cal-
cium chloride, and sodium sulfate environments demonstrates
excellent chemical resistance. Fig. 3 shows the compressive
strength results of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite
aged in the various chemical solutions.
In the case of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite
aged in an alkaline environment, some deterioration in strength
occurred at time points greater than 60 days. However, the change
in compressive strength was not major, so it appears that the
chemical resistance of recycled PET bre-reinforced cement com-
posite to an alkaline environment is good.

Table 2
Mix proportion.

Type Gmaxa (mm) Air (%) W/Cb (%) S/Ac (%) Water (kg/m3) Cement (kg/m3) Sand (kg/m3) Gravel (kg/m3) Fibre volume fraction (%)
Control 25 4.5 1.5 50 45 175 350 794 989
PET 1.0
a
Gmax: maximum aggregate size.
b
W/C: watercement ratio.
c
S/A: sandaggregate ratio.
662 J.-P. Won et al. / Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665

Fig. 3. Compressive strength results of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement

composite in the various chemical environments.

In the case of the sulfuric acid environment, at extended times,

compressive strength decreased considerably and on the 120th day
of aging, the deterioration in strength was about 24%. Thus, recy-
cled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in a sulfuric acid envi-
ronment does deteriorate.

3.4. Surface of PET bre after various chemical environments

3.4.1. Alkaline environment

The shape of the surface was observed by SEM after exposing
recycled PET bres to an alkaline environment for the prescribed
periods of aging. Deterioration of the recycled PET bre surface
was evident and it increased with time compared to the smooth
surface of standard specimens. After 120 days of aging, deteriora-
tion had progressed over the entire cross section. Thus, it appears
that PET bres degrade in an alkaline environment. Fig. 4 shows
SEM micrographs of recycled PET bre surfaces. In an alkaline envi-
ronment, deterioration of the PET bre surface occurred with
increasing time (Fig. 4be) compared to the standard specimen
(Fig. 4a). As a result, recycled PET bre would be expected to per-
form badly in an alkaline environment.

3.4.2. Salt and calcium environment

The surface shape of recycled PET bre in a salt and calcium
environment was observed by SEM. From observing the surface
shape with increasing aging time, no apparent deterioration took
place and almost no difference between the surface of the standard
specimen was seen. Figs. 5 and 6 show surface pictures of recycled
PET bres according to aging period. Figs. 5a and 6a show a stan-
dard specimen with no surface deterioration; Figs. 5be and 6b
e, aged for the indicated periods of time, reveal that the degree
of deterioration was slight, even as aging time increased. Thus, it
appears that excellent performance can be expected when recycled
PET bre is used as a concrete reinforcement bre.

3.4.3. Sulfuric acid environment

The surface shape of the recycled PET bre in a sulfuric acid
environment was examined. From observing surface shape accord-
ing to increased aging time, signicant deterioration of the recy-
cled PET bre surface resulted. Compared to the smooth surface
of the standard specimen, with increasing aging times, deteriora- Fig. 4. Surface of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in an alkaline
tion of the surface occurred, and by 120 days of aging, deteriora- environment.
 J.-P. Won et al. / Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665 663

Fig. 5. Surface of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in a salt Fig. 6. Surface of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in a calcium
environment. chloride environment.
664 J.-P. Won et al. / Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665

Fig. 7. Surface of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in a sulfuric Fig. 8. Surface of the recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite in a sodium
acid environment. sulfate environment.
 J.-P. Won et al. / Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010) 660665
tion had progressed over the entire cross section. Thus, recycled
PET bre showed poor chemical resistance in a sulfuric acid envi-
ronment. As seen in Fig. 7, compared to the standard specimen
(Fig. 7a) with no corrosion of the PET bre, deterioration of the -
bre occurred with increased aging times (Fig. 7be), and after
120 day of aging, the degree of deterioration of the recycled PET -
bre appeared very signicant, with the surface showing a very
rough surface. Therefore, if recycled PET bre is exposed to sulfuric
acid, it would be expected to demonstrate poor chemical resis-
tance. As seen in the compressive strength results in Fig. 3, the
use of PET bre in an environment with sulfuric acid requires cau-
tion because its strength decreased as the aging time increased.
3.4.4. Sodium sulfate environment
Surface deterioration of recycled PET bres in a sodium sulfate
environment was investigated. With increased aging times, little
deterioration of the surface of the recycled PET bre was seen.
Fig. 8 shows the SEM result of the recycled PET bre; little differ-
ence occurred in the deterioration of the recycled PET bre be-
tween the standard specimen (Fig. 8a) and specimens (b)(e),
even with increased aging times. Thus, if recycled PET bre is ex-
posed to a sodium sulfate environment, it would be expected to
show excellent chemical resistance.
4. Conclusion
In this study, the performance of recycled PET bre-reinforced
cement composite in long-term durability was evaluated. Speci-
cally, chloride permeability, repeated freezethaw cycle, alkaline,
salt, calcium chloride, sulfuric acid, and sodium sulfate environ-
ments were examined. The experimental result can be summarized
as follows:
(1) Recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite had no sig-
nicant difference in chloride permeability compared to the con-
trol specimen.
665
(2) Regarding repeated freezethaw test, recycled PET bre-
reinforced cement composite had better performance than the
control concrete.
(3) When recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite was
exposed to an alkaline environment, progressive deterioration
was observed on the PET bre surface as the aging time increased.
If recycled PET bre is exposed to an alkaline environment, its per-
formance can be expected to be poor.
(4) When recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite was
exposed to salt or sodium sulfate environments, very little deteri-
oration of the PET bre surface occurred and it did not progress
with aging time. Thus, if recycled PET bre is exposed to salt or
sodium sulfate environments, it is expected to show outstanding
chemical resistance.
(5) When recycled PET bre-reinforced cement composite was
exposed to a sulfuric acid environment, some deterioration of the
PET bre surface was observed and it progressed as the aging time
increased. If recycled PET bre is exposed to a sulfuric acid envi-
ronment, it would be expected to show poor chemical resistance.
As shown in the compressive strength results of recycled PET
bre-reinforced cement composite in a sulfuric acid environment,
not only deterioration of the bre itself, but that of the physical
and mechanical properties of the concrete reinforced with the
recycled PET bre would be expected.
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