Alkali Resistance of Fibers, FRP Rods and Epoxy Resins

FRP rods made of carbon, aramid and glass fibers are increasingly being used as alternative reinforcements in concrete structures due to their non-corrosive characteristics. However, alkali resistance characteristics of FRP rods made of above mentioned fibers as well as the resins, which are used to harden the fibers have hardly been clarified. Furthermore, an appropriate test method to study the alkali resistance of FRP rods has never been established. The objectives of this paper are to establish a suitable test method to study the alkali resistance of FRP rods and to investigate eleven kinds of FRP rods, ten kinds of different fibers and four kinds of resins in terms of their alkali resistance. A series of tests have been done during the past three years to establish an appropriate test method proposed in this paper. This paper also describes some mechanical properties such as tensile strength, Young's modulus and load carrying capacities of the FRP rods, fibers and resins after they have been immersed in alkali solution for two years.

• INTRODUCTION

• TEST PROGRAM

• TEST RESULTS

• CONCLUSIONS

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• APPENDIX: TEST METHOD FOR ALKALI RESISTANCE OF CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORCING MATERIALS

• SCOPE

• TEST PIECES

• IMMERSION IN ALKALINE SOLUTION

• EXTERNAL APPEARANCE AND MASS CHANGE

• TENSILE TEST

• CALUCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF TEST RESULTS