CEMENTITIOUS-MATRIX COMPOSITES FROM SICL4-PLASMA-ACTIVATED POLYPROPYLENE FIBERS

Polypropylene (PP) fibres (fibrillated PP) obtained by inducing splits in PP films were treated under radio frequency (RF) (30 kHz) SiCl4-pl asma conditions in a stainless steel, parallel plate, capacitively cou pled reactor. Analytical investigations carried out on the pale yellow -coloured fibre demonstrated the presence of OH groups and Si atoms on the PP surfaces, resulting in improved wettability and decreased cont act angle values. Surface morphologies estimated using atomic-force mi croscopy indicated the presence of a very rough surface structure for the plasma-treated substrates in comparison with the unmodified sample s. Comparative test data from PP fibre-reinforced concrete and SiCl4-c old plasma-treated PP fibre reinforced concrete showed improved mechan ical characteristics (flexural strength, flexural toughness, and tough ness indices) for all of the plasma-treated fibre-based composites.