Evaluation of the functionalization of surface of steel microfibers with Tetraeoxysilane (TEOS) and Glixidoxypropriltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS)

ABSTRACT

Steel fibers are widely used for the most diverse purposes in civil construction. The main use is for structural reinforcement. In this application, the fibers act as a stress transfer bridge in the composite through the friction between the fiber and the matrix. One way to enhance the application of fibers in cementitious composites is to change the surface of the fibers by physical chemical means in order to provide greater interaction between the fiber and the matrix. In this work it is proposed a chemical treatment with two types of silane, Tetraethoxysilane (TEO)S and Glicidoxypropiltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Functionalization treatments were carried out by wet process and acid route with sequential baths and cured after treatment with silanes in portions of 1 and 10% by volume in the solution and later analyzed by SEM/EDS and gravimetric method. Steel fibers were obtained with silanes deposited on its surface. It was found that the higher the concentration of the silane bath, the greater the deposition of silane on the surface of the fibers. In parallel, there was an expressive increase in the concentration of silicon as a function of the silane content in the functionalization baths. It was also found that silane films when thick show fragility to abrasion, being possible to remove part of the film through friction between the fibers.

Keywords
Silanes; TEOS; GPTMS; steel fibers