Application of admicellar polymerization in fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

Admicellar polymerization is the polymerization process of monomers solubilized in adsorbed surfactant bilayer which is one of methods used for surface modification of a substrate. In this research, polyester fabric surface was modified via admicellar polymerization technique using poly(methyl acrylate) as monomers to improve the hydrophilicity of polyester surface for using as reinforcement in concrete. The increase in the hydrophilicity of the treated fabric surface was determined by the contact angle measurement. From, the results, it was found that the optimum condition for admicellar polymerization is 1.5 mM DBSA with 0.05 M NaCl at pH 4. Characterizations of modified fabric were carried out using FTIR and SEM techniques. From FTIR spectra and SEM micrographs, it was confirmed that an ultrathin film of poly(methyl acrylate) was successfully coated on polyester fabric. The condition for admicellar polymerization which gave polyester surface with highest hydrophilicity is 1.5 mM DBSA, 0.05 M NaCl, 1:2 DBSA:MA molar ratio, and 1:5 AIBN:MA molar ratio. Flexural test showed that elastic load and flexural deformation of reinforced concrete with treated fabric was improved by 270% and 180%, respectively, when compared to reinforced concrete with untreated fabric.