Mechanical and microstructural features of autoclaved aerated concrete reinforced with autoclaved polypropylene, carbon, basalt and glass fiber

Abstract Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a construction material obtained by being pore-forming of the mixture prepared with finely crushed siliceous aggregate lime, water and limestone with the addition of aluminum powder and being cured with steam cure (autoclave). AAC is a widely used material today in the constructions as a material that is very light compared to concrete or conventional stone material and that has high insulation properties and fire-resistant light construction material. In this study, the effect of fiber type and size in the production of AAC on compressive, flexural strength and thermal conductivity values has been investigated. In the study, G2/04 class having 400 kg/m 3 density of AAC production used for wall element and commercially produced was taken as a reference. Fiber types were substituted for an equal amount of aggregate and AAC samples were produced. The mechanical properties and thermal conductivity values as well as microstructural features of the sample produced were examined. The samples produced were waited at the temperature of 60 °C in 4 h-cure, then they were subjected to the cure at the temperature of 180 °C, at the pressure of 11 bar and in an autoclave for 6.5 h. As well as the mechanical properties of the samples produced and thermal conductivity values, their microstructural features were also examined. In the study, it was seen that fiber was supplemented instead of quartzite increased flexural and compressive strength of AAC and carbon fiber reinforced AAC gave the best flexural and compressive strength compared to fiber types.