Effect of Atmospheric Pressure Oxygen Plasma treatment on Bonding Characteristics of Basalt Fibre Reinforced Concrete

In this research work, the bonding characteristics of plasma treated basalt fibres were analysed by employing the fibre pull-out test. 80 samples were prepared with two different spans of basalt fibres (such as 25 mm and 50 mm) and four levels of embedded length (10, 15, 20 and 25) inside standard M20 grade concrete. Debonding and bonding characteristics of the plasma treated fibres were compared with raw basalt fibres through the fibre pull-out test. The plasma treated and raw basalt fibres were characterised through Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. It was observed that confirmation of the presence of hydroxyl groups on the basalt fibre surface was realised through the FTIR test and that there was higher adsorption of concrete particles by the plasma treated basalt fibres through FESEM. The de bonding and fibre pull-out energy of the plasma treated basalt fibres were improved by about 9% and 10% compared with 25 mm and 50 mm raw basalt fibres. From the observation above, it can be stated that the surface modification of basalt fibre may lead to a change in the debonding and pull-out energy level.