Effect of Ar+ Ion Irradiation of Polymeric Fiber on Interface and Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Composites

The values of fracture energy and mechanical flexural strength of Fiber Reinforced Cement (FRC) with polypropylene (PP) fiber modified by Ion Assisted Reaction (JAR), by which functional groups were grafted on the surface of PP fiber, was improved about 2 times as those of fracture energy and flexural strength of cement reinforced by untreated PP fiber. PP fiber was irradiated in O$_2$ environment by Ar$\^$+/ ion. The contact angle of PP treated by IAR decreased largely when compared with untreated PP. From this result, we expected that surface energy and interfacial adhesion force of treated PP fiber increased. The strain hardening occurred in the strain-stress curve of FRC including PP treated by IAR when compared with that of FRC with untreated PP. These enhanced mechanical properties might be due to strong interaction between hydrophilic group on modified PP fiber and hydroxyl group in cement matrix. This hydrophilic group on surface modified PP fiber was confirmed by XPS analysis. We clearly observed hydration products that were fixed at modified PP fiber due to the strong adhesion force of interface in cement reinforced modified PP by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) study.