Composite fiber for the reinforcement of concrete

Abstract

Composite fibers and methods of manufacturing composite fibers for the reinforcement of concrete are provided. The composite fibers include fibers and a polymeric coating. The composite fibers have a length of about 10 to about 80 mm and an equivalent diameter from about 0.3 to about 2 mm. A method for reinforcing concrete using the composite fibers is further provided.

1 . A composite fiber for the reinforcement of concrete, said composite fiber comprising a plurality of fibers and a polymeric coating, wherein said composite fiber has a length of about 10 to about 80 mm and an equivalent diameter of about 0.3 to about 2 mm 
     
     
         2 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said composite fiber has a length of about 30 to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said composite fiber has an equivalent diameter of about 0.5 to about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber is a mineral fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber is a glass fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The composite fiber of  claim 5 , wherein said fiber is an alkali-resistant glass fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric coating is a radiation cured polymeric coating. 
     
     
         8 . The composite fiber of  claim 7 , wherein said polymeric coating is a UV cured polymeric coating. 
     
     
         9 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is a polyurethane or polyester resin. 
     
     
         10 . The composite fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric coating is from 5 to 50 wt % of the composite fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The composite fiber of  claim 10 , wherein said polymeric coating is from 10 to 30 wt % of the composite fiber. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a composite fiber, said method comprising:
 preparing a viscous polymeric coating composition;   applying the viscous polymeric coating composition to a plurality of fibers to form a coated element; and   exposing the coated element to radiation which cures the viscous coating composition to form a composite fiber.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said radiation is UV radiation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said composite fiber has a length from about 10 to about 80 mm and an equivalent diameter of about 0.3 to about 2 mm 
     
     
         15 . A method for reinforcing concrete, said method comprising:
 preparing a viscous polymeric coating composition;   applying the viscous polymeric coating composition to a plurality of fibers to form a plurality of coated elements, each of said coated elements including one or more of said fibers;   exposing the coated elements to radiation and which cures the polymeric coating composition to form a plurality of composite fibers;   preparing a concrete; and   mixing the composite fibers in said concrete.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said composite fibers are included in the concrete in an amount from about 2 to about 75 kg/m 3  of said concrete. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said composite fibers are included in the concrete in an amount from about 5 to about 25 kg/m 3  of said concrete. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said composite fibers have a length of about 10 to about 80 mm and an equivalent diameter from about 0.3 to about 2 mm.