Durability of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Cements in Acidic Environments

Abstract

The strength and toughness durability of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Cements (CFRC) in inorganic acidic environments was investigated by subjecting prismatic flexural specimens (15 mm x 15 mm x 150 mm) to two acidic environments (H sub 2 SO sub 4 and HNO sub 3) at the age of 28 days for up to 90 days. The pH of the two acids was maintained at 4.0 Eight CFRC mixes and three volume fractions of pitch-based carbon fibers were investigated. It was concluded that while plain unreinforced cements had considerable retrogression in their mechanical properties, carbon fiber reinforced cements had no appreciable effect on either the strength or the toughness at least for the duration of exposure investigated.