Mechanical performances and micro-level properties of basalt and PVA fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite after high temperatures exposure

After high-temperature exposure, synthetic fibers with low melt temperature tend to exert negative influence on mechanical performance of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) and its elements. Basalt and PVA fiber reinforced hybrid-fiber ECC (basalt/PVA HF-ECC) is a promising way to address such drawback, due to the low cost, sustainability and high-temperature stability of basalt fiber. However, relevant researches only focus on fiber replacement and are still on primary stage, meanwhile their results show further performance improvements are required. In present study, basalt/PVA HF-ECC with superimposed basalt fiber content is proposed. Mechanical and micro-level related tests were conducted to investigate the effect of superimposed basalt fiber content after high-temperature exposure. Compressive test results showed basalt fiber could increase compressive strength at elevated temperatures. The optimal basalt fiber volume fraction was 0.8%, whereby compressive strength was higher than that of control PVA-ECC by 62.05%, 55.45% and 37.24% at 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C. Tensile test results exhibited that stress-strain curves of basalt/PVA HF-ECC showed brittle behavior when PVA fiber melted at elevated temperatures, and first cracking strength also showed continuous increase as basalt fiber content increased. The optimal basalt fiber volume fraction was 1.2%, whereby first cracking strength was higher than that of control PVA-ECC by 48.43%, 42.38%, 36.30% and 50.41% at 23 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests showed basalt fiber reduced average pore diameter at elevated temperatures, while hardly exerted influence on porosity. At 600 °C and 800 °C, 0.8% and 1.2% content of basalt fiber decreased average pore diameter of control PVA-ECC by 13%–37%, and deduced peak heights of pore size distribution curves. SEM observation discussed and proved the basalt fiber contribution to strength improvement after high-temperature exposure. Rupture space related analysis was also used to discuss the tensile strain capacity deterioration at elevated temperatures. The present study investigates high-temperature mechanical performances and micro-level properties of basalt/PVA HF-ECC with superimposed basalt fiber content, thus promotes development of heat-resistant ECC with much reliable performances.