Effect of high temperature on polypropylene fiber-reinforced mortars containing colemanite wastes

In this study, the effect of polypropylene (PP) fiber utilization ratio on the fresh and some hardened properties of mortar mixtures containing colemanite waste (CW), which mainly contains B2O3, SiO2 and CaO, containing mortar mixtures were investigated. The 17 mortar mixtures were prepared by replacing 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% of cement with CW and by adding 0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% by volume of PP fibers to the control mixture. In all mixtures, water/binder ratio, sand/binder ratio and slump-flow values were kept constant as 0.485, 2.75 and 220 +/- 20 mm, respectively. Water reducing admixture requirement of each mixture was determined to provide the target slump-flow range in mortar mixtures. There was a change in the amount of admixture according to the amount of CW and fiber content in the mixture. The 28 and 56-day water absorption capacity, compressive strength and high temperature resistance of mortar mixtures were determined. Strength reduction of specimens exposed to 300 degrees C and 600 degrees C were compared. In addition, thermal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed on the specimens. According to the test results, with the increase in the amount CW and PP fiber in the mixtures, the admixture demand to provide target flow value and the 28-day water absorption capacity of the mixtures increased, while the 28-day compressive strengths decreased. However, while there was no significant change in the 56-day water absorption capacity and compressive strength values of the specimens containing CW, the water absorption capacity increased and the compressive strength decreased upon the presence of fiber in the matrix. The specimens containing both of CW and PP fiber showed better performance in terms of high-temperature resistance.