Improvement of Very-High Strength Heat-Resistant Concrete's Brittleness Index Including Micro Polyether Ether Ketone Polymer under High Temperature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70028/cpir.v2i1.94Keywords:
Very-high Strength Concrete, Heat-resistant Concrete, Brittleness Index, Mechanical Properties, Polyether Ether KetoneAbstract
Very-high strength heat-resistant concrete (VHSHRC) can endure elevated temperatures without substantial deterioration of its properties. Nonetheless, the escalating brittleness remains a significant issue with this type of concrete, particularly when subjected to elevated temperatures. This issue results in a brittle failure mode when subjected to thermal stress. To rectify this deficiency, micro Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) polymer was included as a fraction of the overall aggregate content in VHSHRC. This study involved the incorporation of micro PEEK with VHSHRC at several ratios of 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% by the wet mixing method. The compressive and split tensile strength were evaluated as part of the mechanical characteristics. The trials were performed under standard settings, as well as at several higher temperatures and durations of exposure. The findings indicated that the incorporation of 0.3% micro PEEK in VHSHRC enhanced split tensile strength and reduced brittleness index (BI) under all heat exposure circumstances. At 125°C, the split tensile strength rose by 3.88%. Moreover, heating at 175°C yielded the peak split tensile strength of 13.35 MPa and a 12.69% decrease in BI. These upgrades sought to mitigate microcracks and fortify the bond between aggregate and binder by the use of micro PEEK particles. Moreover, microstructural analyses demonstrated that the PEEK polymer contributed to a reduction in both the quantity and dimensions of microvoids and pores.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zhwan Anwar Noori, Ferhad Rahim Karim, Hardy Kamal Karim (Author)
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