Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags

The significant generation of urban solid waste by the construction sector demands strategies to mitigate its environmental impacts. This study investigated the use of polypropylene (PP) fibers from raffia bags, repurposed as reinforcement in concrete. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses were perform...

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Main Authors: Fernanda V. Novak, Ângela G. Graeff, Ruth M. C. Santana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol) 2025-07-01
Series:Materials Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000200266&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Fernanda V. Novak
Ângela G. Graeff
Ruth M. C. Santana
author_facet Fernanda V. Novak
Ângela G. Graeff
Ruth M. C. Santana
author_sort Fernanda V. Novak
collection DOAJ
description The significant generation of urban solid waste by the construction sector demands strategies to mitigate its environmental impacts. This study investigated the use of polypropylene (PP) fibers from raffia bags, repurposed as reinforcement in concrete. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the recycled fibers. For the concrete, the tests included axial compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, Slump Test, and capillary water absorption. Four different concrete mixes were evaluated, one as reference and three others incorporating 0.3% by weight of different recycled PP fibers, relative to the cement mass. Incorporating recycled PP fibers into the concrete mix led to an enhancement in tensile strength by up to 15.56%, alongside a reduction in water absorption by 7.81%. However, no significant improvement in compressive strength was observed. The results indicated the potential of recycled PP fibers as reinforcement for concrete, although further studies are needed to determine the optimal addition percentage.
format Article
id doaj-art-b456e249b53a4342ba45dd98b0e71fe9
institution Kabale University
issn 1516-1439
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
record_format Article
series Materials Research
spelling doaj-art-b456e249b53a4342ba45dd98b0e71fe92025-08-20T03:34:57ZengAssociação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)Materials Research1516-14392025-07-0128suppl 110.1590/1980-5373-mr-2025-0114Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia BagsFernanda V. Novakhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-4225-7994Ângela G. GraeffRuth M. C. Santanahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6843-9915The significant generation of urban solid waste by the construction sector demands strategies to mitigate its environmental impacts. This study investigated the use of polypropylene (PP) fibers from raffia bags, repurposed as reinforcement in concrete. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the recycled fibers. For the concrete, the tests included axial compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, Slump Test, and capillary water absorption. Four different concrete mixes were evaluated, one as reference and three others incorporating 0.3% by weight of different recycled PP fibers, relative to the cement mass. Incorporating recycled PP fibers into the concrete mix led to an enhancement in tensile strength by up to 15.56%, alongside a reduction in water absorption by 7.81%. However, no significant improvement in compressive strength was observed. The results indicated the potential of recycled PP fibers as reinforcement for concrete, although further studies are needed to determine the optimal addition percentage.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000200266&lng=en&tlng=enConcreteMechanical propertiesRecycled polypropylene fibersRepurposed materialsWater absorption
spellingShingle Fernanda V. Novak
Ângela G. Graeff
Ruth M. C. Santana
Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
Materials Research
Concrete
Mechanical properties
Recycled polypropylene fibers
Repurposed materials
Water absorption
title Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
title_full Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
title_fullStr Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
title_full_unstemmed Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
title_short Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Recycled Polypropylene Fibers from Raffia Bags
title_sort performance of concrete reinforced with recycled polypropylene fibers from raffia bags
topic Concrete
Mechanical properties
Recycled polypropylene fibers
Repurposed materials
Water absorption
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392025000200266&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT fernandavnovak performanceofconcretereinforcedwithrecycledpolypropylenefibersfromraffiabags
AT angelaggraeff performanceofconcretereinforcedwithrecycledpolypropylenefibersfromraffiabags
AT ruthmcsantana performanceofconcretereinforcedwithrecycledpolypropylenefibersfromraffiabags