The role of nano-CaCO3in the mechanical performance of polyvinyl alcohol fibre-reinforced geopolymer composites

This paper investigates the mechanical (compressive and flexural strengths, flexural rigidity, stiffness, impact strength, hardness, compressive strain-stress and flexural load-deflection) and microstructural properties of polyvinyl alcohol- (PVA)-geopolymer composites reinforced with different amounts of nano-CaCO(3)particles and cured at room temperature. The results reveal that using up to 2.0 wt% nano-CaCO(3)leads to an improvement in PVA-geopolymer composite performance. Composites with this amount of CaCO(3)particles exhibited compact microstructures, as well as high levels of compressive stress-strain and flexural load-deflection, leading to good adhesion or interaction within the PVA fibre interface within the matrix. It was also evident that the combined effect of nano-CaCO(3)and well-dispersed PVA fibres in the matrix leads to composites with superior mechanical properties, most clearly in samples containing 2.0 wt% nanoparticles.

Automated summary

The study showed that incorporating up to 2.0 wt% nano-CaCO(3)particles can enhance the performance of PVA-geopolymer composites by improving their compressive strength and flexural load-deflection. The synergistic effect of nano-CaCO(3)and well-dispersed PVA fibers in the matrix results in composites with superior mechanical properties.