Effect of autoclaving on cement composites containing polypropylene, glass and carbon fibres

The tensile properties of cement composites containing polypropylene networks alone and also hybrids of polypropylene and continuons glass or carbon fibres, were compared after curing at 20 °C or 170 °C in an autoclave. Although 170 °C is nominally above the melting temperature of polypropylene, the fibres maintained a high proportion of their properties on cooling. Hybrids of carbon and polypropylene also survived autoclaving but the continuous glass fibres suffered severe damage in this curing regime.