Effect of acrylic/polyester fiber addition on mortar mechanical and insulation properties

In this study, the compressive strength, flexural strength, thermal insulation, and microstructural properties of mortar samples containing an acrylic/polyester fiber mixture were analyzed. To this end, eight different mortar mixtures were prepared, incorporating 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% acrylic/polyester fiber mixture by weight. In four of the mortar mixtures, 100% cement was used as the binder material, while in the other four mixtures, fly ash was preferred as a substitute for cement at a rate of 50% by weight. The effects of all prepared mortar samples on both mechanical and insulation properties were investigated in detail. According to the 44 experimental results, it was observed that as the fiber content ratio increased, the compressive strengths decreased, while the flexural strengths and insulation values increased.