Cement based fiber-reinforced mortar: the fiber influence on the mortar performance

Abstract

[Excerpt] The extraction and processing of natural resources is accompanied by a significant amount of waste materials - only 1/3 of extracted raw material is used to produce industrial output; the rest 2/3 turn into waste materials and by-products (AABMCI, 2009). The textile sector is responsible for a significant percentage of the waste material produced. Nevertheless, it is also the textile sector the one that presents successful by-products and/or second-line products. Although the usage of waste fibrous materials in the building construction industry is nowadays a reality, namely in the production of thermal and acoustic insulation panels, the disposal of waste materials in landfills is still reality common practice. Waste fibrous materials are accumulated at textile factories and the technical challenge is the search for new applications for waste fibers with more added values. An interesting application for the waste fibers seems to be the reinforcement of mortars for masonry applications. [...]