Papers by Author: Lubomír Kopecký

Abstract: Polymeric macro fibers BeneSteel having diameter equal to 480 μm and length 55 mm were treated in low pressure oxygen plasma by different treatment duration from 5 to 480 s to attain the better interaction with cement matrix (focused on both, chemical and physical bond). An effect of realized treatment was examined through fiber surface water wettability observation by direct horizontal optical method enabling contact angle measurements. Next, the pertinent negative impact of plasma treatment on fibers mechanical properties was examined by several methods. It was shown that the most effective plasma treatment duration is up to 30 s. Thus treated fibers exhibited the better wettability by ca. 110 % in comparison with reference fibers, while its mechanical properties were not negatively affected. Finally, reference and 30 s plasma treated fibers were used as randomly dispersed reinforcement in concrete specimens. Mechanical properties of these composites were examined by four-point bending tests. Specimens containing treated fibers exhibited bigger fracture toughness by ca. 30 % beside the reference ones, while the first cracking strength stayed constant in all cases.

Abstract: Presented work deals with the surface treatments and its effect on micro fibers using as randomly dispersed reinforcement in many types of composite materials. Cool oxygen plasma was used to surface wettability modification of chopped glass fibers having diameter equal to 14 μm. Plasma treatments were carried out at three different times of exposition equal to 4 min, 8 min and 16 min. The influence of executed treatments was observed by the horizontal direct optical method enabling static contact angle measurements on micro fibers which were submerged in a distilled water. The identified differences between the contact angles size of original fibers and the treated fibers were equal to several tens of percent.

Abstract: It is desirable to use secondary raw materials with regard to the sustainable development. One such suitable material is fly ash. Still enough unused possibility of using fly ash is the use in cement and concrete. This use brings a positive ecological and economic effect. However, it is important to devote to the behavior of fly ash in concrete mixture at the macro and micro level. This paper deals with selected properties as a positive influence on the development of hydration heat, the increase in compressive strength or problems with water absorption fly ash.

Abstract: Glass fiber-reinforced lime-based mortars have been studied. Two different fiber reinforcement amounts were used as an addition to the mixtures. Compressive strength and post-cracking behavior of mortars were observed and compared with reference mixture without any reinforcement (marked R). The fibers were added in the amount of 1.8 kg/m³ (mortar samples MA) and 93.75 kg/m³ (mortar samples MB). Destructive compression tests were chosen to compare the performance of the individual mixtures. The maximum compressive strength reached during the testing was the highest for reference samples, while those samples together with MA exhibited the elastic-brittle behavior. Only MB had post-linear hardening behavior and after reaching the maximum compressive strength a slow softening was present.

Abstract: Presented article deals with the influence of PET fiber production on the bending strength of cement-based composite when incorporated into the fresh mortar, and comparison of results of 3-point and 4-point bending test. Cement paste samples were reinforced with 2 wt. % of primary or recycled PET fibers. The bending test was performed on prismatic samples with dimension of 40 × 40 × 160 mm. It was found that samples with recycled PET fibers, compared to primary ones, exhibit a decrease in bending strength. In the case of 4-point bending tests, the samples with recycled PET fibers exhibited higher bending strength than reference samples without any fibers. However, in the case of 3-point bending tests, the samples with recycled PET fibers had lower bending strength than the reference ones. The results suggest that recycled PET fibers could be used as an alternative to reinforce cement-based composites.

Abstract: Presented work deals with PET (polyethylene terephthalate) fiber-reinforced cement pastes and cool oxygen plasma fiber surface treatment used to attain the better adhesion between fibers surface and the cement matrix. Three sets of cement paste samples were made with the same matrix (CEM I 42.5R with water to cement ratio equal to 0.4). The two sample sets contained micro fiber reinforcement varying in surface properties. One set was reinforced with unmodified fibers, while in to the other set plasma treated fibers were used. As a comparative indicator to bending response of the composite materials, four-point destructive tests were carried out. The samples reinforced with unmodified fibers exhibited deflection-softening behavior during the post-cracking phase, while samples with plasma treated fibers exhibited deflection-hardening behavior.

Abstract: This work deals with determination of location of micro fibers positions in fiber-reinforced concrete. The digital images of sectioned cement-paste samples with dimension equal to 40 × 40 mm were used as an information source about the monofilaments positions. Properly acquired digital image of high resolution allows to determinate the number of fibers in samples cross sections and relate theirs coordinates to any point. Optical microscope Carl Zeiss Axio Zoom.V16 with camera and software allowing individual shots composition of examined samples surface was used to obtain these parameters. Cement pastes reinforced with PET (polyethylene terephthalate) micro fibers having diameter equal to 0.4 mm were studied. The total number and the fibers distribution along the height and width of the sample cross section were examined.

Abstract: The aim of this work is the description of microstructure and comparison of micromechanical properties of cylindrical shaped intraosseous parts of dental implants with plasma modified surface and with threaded modification. Differences in elastic parameters (such as reduced modulus (E_r) and hardness (H)) of investigated implants within the supporting part of the shaft and surface layer in two different directions (proximal and lateral) are compared using experimental method of nanoindentation. Machined implants of titanium alloys Ti6Al4V with plasma modified surface of sprayed titanium with hydroxyapatit (HA) Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ from different batches of product were available for measurements. SEM element analysis revealed a heterogeneous structure and various concentrations of the essential chemical elements (C, O, P, Ca) on the surface of implants. Results of elastic moduli and hardness was monitored in different locations. On a large statistical set of measurements was indicated that average reduced modulus of implant shafts of titanium alloy is approximately 126 GPa. Differences of E_r in case of peripheral hydroxyapatite layer are in range of ~145 GPa – ~163 GPa according to the exact composition of surface modification in the individual batches of the product. The difference of measured values on individual samples in a proximal/lateral direction is approximately 10%.

Abstract: Research of alkali-activated materials has been a traditional domain of chemists. This paper exploits contribution of micromechanics to the subject. A new model for volumetric evolution of chemical phases is formulated. The first homogenization level identifies elasticity on the scale of N-A-S-H gel. Nanoindentation sensing technique yielded the intrinsic Young's modulus of N-A-S-H gel as ~18 GPa, which was further downscaled to the solid gel particles. Percolation theory had to be introduced to match an early-age elasticity. The second homogenization level takes into account an unreacted fly ash. Homogenization models match well the experimental elasticity and demonstrate stiffening of N-A-S-H gel, induced by increasing packing density of the solid gel particles. The percolation model explains a long setting time of alkali-activated materials.