Influence of Polypropylene Fibre Geometry on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortars

In this study, fibrillated polypropylene fibres and fibres with a round and five-arm star cross section were produced. The fibres were chopped to specified lengths and used for the reinforcement of cement mortars. Mortars containing different dosages of fibres were prepared. The compression and bending strength of the mortars were determined and it was noted that the fibres do not affect the compressive strength of the mortars. For reinforced mortars, regardless of the fibre geometry and dosage, the compressive strength is comparable with that of plain mortar The fibres influence the bending strength of the mortars. For mortars reinforced with fibrillated fibres a significant increase in the bending strength was observed. For mortars which contained other fibres, the effect of the reinforcement on the bending strength was less visible. The increase in the bending strength was explained by the fibre/matrix interaction.