Durability of steel fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites

Abstract

The use of alkali-activated composites is gaining attention as an alternative to Portland clinker-based cementitious composites with the potential to lower carbon dioxide emissions in construction industry. To fulfill the requirement as a structural concrete, steel fibers with high tensile strength are commonly incorporated to overcome the intrinsic brittleness of the binder matrix and improve the mechanical performance of alkali-activated composites. Considering its long-term serviceability, the durability of steel fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites is also important and needs to be verified. This chapter reviews and discusses the durability of steel fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites, with a focus on the effect of steel fiber reinforcement on various durability properties of alkali-activated composites. The outcome shows that the steel fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites show great promise as a sustainable high-performance construction material with improved durability compared to its plain counterpart, depending on the service environment.