A team of engineers from Australia’s RMIT University are making concrete stronger and more crack resistant using scrap carpet fibers.

The team is working in conjunction with partners including Textile Recyclers Australia, Godfrey Hirst Australia and councils in Victoria to carry out field studies of on-ground concrete slabs made with reclaimed textiles.

Source: RMIT University

To accomplish this, researchers from RMIT University developed an approach that uses waste carpet fibers to reduce premature shrinkage cracking in concrete by roughly 30%, while simultaneously improving the concrete's durability. Further, the researchers also used other assorted discarded textiles such as fabric from clothing.

"Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a long-standing challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety. Scrap carpet fibers can be used to increase concrete's strength by 40% in tension and prevent early cracking, by reducing shrinkage substantially," the team explained.

The concrete samples created using various textile materials reportedly met Australian standards for engineering performance and environmental requirements, the researchers reported.

An article detailing the findings, “Enhancement of concrete performance and sustainability through incorporation of diverse waste carpet fibers,” appears in the journal Construction and Building Materials.