Assessment of the mechanical and durability properties of cementing mortars reinforced with different proportions of PET fibers (PFRM)

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become one of the biggest causes of global pollution in recent decades since both its highly non-biodegradable composition and non-optimal final disposal. For this reason, it is essential to encourage current strategies that allow the sustainable recycling and reuse of PET. There is not yet full current knowledge and understanding regarding advantages and limitations for using PET fibers in cement-based materials, which motived this research. The main goal is to employ recycled PET fibers having an aspect ratio of 37 as partial reinforcement of cementing mortars using fiber volume fractions of 0%, 0.25%, 0.50% 0,75% and 1.0%. The experimental program comprised the testing and assessment of physical, mechanical and durability properties of 60 mortar samples, by means of open porosity, bulk density, compressive strength and chloride penetration trials. From the results, PET fiber reinforced mortar (PFRM) has 16% lesser compressive strength in comparison to the plain mortar (without PET fibers). However, the former also exhibits 14%, 5% and 11% lesser open porosity, bulk density and chloride penetrability respectively, which can be considered as a serviceability proxy. In accordance with the experimental outcomes, this preliminary study shows that the use of PET fibers could yield special cementing mortars with strengthened durability properties along with an allowable mechanical strength, being these useful for field applications in repairing mortars, for casting thin precast elements, for non-load-bearing construction, and architectural finishes.