Thermal properties of polypropylene and high modulus polyethylene fibers reinforced concretes

Abstract Concrete is one of the materials most used by the construction industry. Reinforcing this material with fibers is a technique used to improve its mechanical properties. Steel and polymer fibers are the main types used in this application and there are few studies about the influence of polymer fibers on the thermal properties of concrete. In order to analyze this influence, the present work carried out thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, and compressive strength after exposure to a temperature of 200 °C on specimens made of concrete with addition of polypropylene (PP) fibers and concrete with addition of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE). It was also conducted thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) on PP and HMPE fibers. The results show that the addition of polymer fibers alters the thermal properties of the concrete, reducing its thermal expansion, for example.