Surface treating and hybridizing short carbon fibers: toward reinforcement of cementitious composites

Abstract The aim of this work was inducing enhanced flexural properties to high‐strength but brittle short carbon fiber reinforced cementitious composites (SCFRCCs). PVA and PP fibers are used as hybrids with carbon fiber (CF) in the cementitious composite. Their deformation capability under stress was considered as an effective method for improving the flexural properties of SCFRCCs. It was found that by increment in the CFs length (from 3 to 6 mm) and concentration (0.8–2 vol%), the flexural strength and toughness enhanced by 32%, 142%, 53%, and 480%, respectively. Surface treatment of CFs by acetone caused 34% decrement in the pullout strength but 29% and 43% enhancement in the flexural strength and toughness of the composites, respectively. Hybridizing CFs and trilobal PP fibers caused achievement of significant flexural performances and 88% increment in flexural toughness compared to the acetone‐treated CF containing composite.