Application of Polypropylene Nonwoven Fabrics for Cement Composites Reinforcement

This study addresses the application of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven layers forstrengthening cement composite by investigating its flexural performance. Nonwoven layers produced by two different bonding techniques (needle-punching and calendaring) were used to reinforce cement sheets. The effect of some parameters related to layers on cement reinforcement was considered in this study. In addition, the application of short fibers (PP and acrylic) on cement/nonwoven composites was experienced. It was found that the cement composite made of thinner layers exhibits greater load-bearing capacity, because of the better penetration of the cement paste to nonwoven layers. The cement matrixes reinforced by nonwoven layers showed better flexural performance and strain-hardening behaviour compared to short fibers reinforced cement composites.