Different Fiber Reinforcement Effects on Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Long-Term Deflection in Three-Point Bending and Microstructure.

This study investigated the effect of a low amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and steel fiber reinforcement on fly ash-based geopolymer composite long-term deflection and its microstructure. For testing purposes, specimens with different amounts and types of fiber reinforcement as well as plain (reference) were prepared. The long-term deflection test was performed by loading specimens with 40% of the ultimate flexural strength.

BTEX detection with composites of ethylenevinyl acetate and nanostructured carbon.

By using a solvent-based method composites of ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer and carbon black (EVA-CB) were synthesized for sensing BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) vapours. The composites were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in an electroconductive mode. Gas sensing results show that EVA-CB can reproducibly detect BTEX and that the response increases linearly with vapour concentration.