Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of PET-Modified Cement Mortars with Metakaolin.
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| Title: | Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of PET-Modified Cement Mortars with Metakaolin. |
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| Authors: | Kostrzanowska-Siedlarz, Aleksandra1 (AUTHOR), Ponikiewski, Tomasz1,2 (AUTHOR) tomasz.ponikiewski@polsl.pl, Kocot, Agnieszka1 (AUTHOR), Sucharda, Oldrich2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Materials (1996-1944). May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 9, p1682. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Compressive strength, Scanning electron microscopy, Microstructure, Cement composites, Mechanical behavior of materials, Kaolin |
| Abstract: | Highlights: Metakaolin (10 wt%) restores the compressive strength of PET-modified mortars to reference levels. SEM analysis confirms that metakaolin densifies the ITZ and reduces interfacial debonding gaps. High cement replacement (50 wt%) may lead to strength loss, potentially associated with self-desiccation and autogenous shrinkage. Pozzolanic activity of MK improves stress transfer between PET flakes and the cementitious matrix. Matrix refinement is essential to mitigate the hydrophobic effects of recycled plastic aggregates. The incorporation of plastic waste into cement-based materials offers a promising strategy for improving sustainability; however, it is often associated with reduced mechanical performance due to weak interfacial bonding. This study investigates the effect of metakaolin on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and mechanical properties of cement mortars modified with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes used for the partial replacement of natural sand. Mortars containing 10 and 50 wt% metakaolin (as cement replacement) and 5 vol.% PET flakes (as sand replacement) were prepared and tested after 28 days of curing. Compressive and flexural strength were evaluated, and microstructural analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a focus on the ITZ. The results indicate that the incorporation of PET flakes leads to a reduction in mechanical properties due to the formation of a porous and weak ITZ. However, the addition of 10 wt% metakaolin significantly improved mechanical properties, enabling PET-modified mortars to achieve strength comparable to the reference mix. SEM observations revealed that metakaolin contributed to the refinement of the microstructure and reduction in ITZ porosity, which enhanced interfacial bonding and improved stress transfer between PET particles and the cement matrix. These findings demonstrate that metakaolin can effectively mitigate the negative effects associated with PET incorporation by improving the microstructural characteristics of the ITZ, thereby enhancing the performance of sustainable cement-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 193715488 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of PET-Modified Cement Mortars with Metakaolin. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kostrzanowska-Siedlarz%2C+Aleksandra%22">Kostrzanowska-Siedlarz, Aleksandra</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ponikiewski%2C+Tomasz%22">Ponikiewski, Tomasz</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> tomasz.ponikiewski@polsl.pl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kocot%2C+Agnieszka%22">Kocot, Agnieszka</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sucharda%2C+Oldrich%22">Sucharda, Oldrich</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Materials+%281996-1944%29%22">Materials (1996-1944)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 9, p1682. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compressive+strength%22">Compressive strength</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scanning+electron+microscopy%22">Scanning electron microscopy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microstructure%22">Microstructure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cement+composites%22">Cement composites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mechanical+behavior+of+materials%22">Mechanical behavior of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kaolin%22">Kaolin</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: Metakaolin (10 wt%) restores the compressive strength of PET-modified mortars to reference levels. SEM analysis confirms that metakaolin densifies the ITZ and reduces interfacial debonding gaps. High cement replacement (50 wt%) may lead to strength loss, potentially associated with self-desiccation and autogenous shrinkage. Pozzolanic activity of MK improves stress transfer between PET flakes and the cementitious matrix. Matrix refinement is essential to mitigate the hydrophobic effects of recycled plastic aggregates. The incorporation of plastic waste into cement-based materials offers a promising strategy for improving sustainability; however, it is often associated with reduced mechanical performance due to weak interfacial bonding. This study investigates the effect of metakaolin on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and mechanical properties of cement mortars modified with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes used for the partial replacement of natural sand. Mortars containing 10 and 50 wt% metakaolin (as cement replacement) and 5 vol.% PET flakes (as sand replacement) were prepared and tested after 28 days of curing. Compressive and flexural strength were evaluated, and microstructural analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a focus on the ITZ. The results indicate that the incorporation of PET flakes leads to a reduction in mechanical properties due to the formation of a porous and weak ITZ. However, the addition of 10 wt% metakaolin significantly improved mechanical properties, enabling PET-modified mortars to achieve strength comparable to the reference mix. SEM observations revealed that metakaolin contributed to the refinement of the microstructure and reduction in ITZ porosity, which enhanced interfacial bonding and improved stress transfer between PET particles and the cement matrix. These findings demonstrate that metakaolin can effectively mitigate the negative effects associated with PET incorporation by improving the microstructural characteristics of the ITZ, thereby enhancing the performance of sustainable cement-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/ma19091682 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 1682 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Compressive strength Type: general – SubjectFull: Scanning electron microscopy Type: general – SubjectFull: Microstructure Type: general – SubjectFull: Cement composites Type: general – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials Type: general – SubjectFull: Kaolin Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of PET-Modified Cement Mortars with Metakaolin. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kostrzanowska-Siedlarz, Aleksandra – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ponikiewski, Tomasz – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kocot, Agnieszka – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sucharda, Oldrich IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961944 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 19 – Type: issue Value: 9 Titles: – TitleFull: Materials (1996-1944) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
