Fire resistance and thermal performance of hybrid fibre-reinforced magnesium oxychloride cement-based composites

Ahmad, F; Rawat, S; Yang, R; Zhang, L; Zhang, YX

Fire resistance and thermal performance of hybrid fibre-reinforced magnesium oxychloride cement-based composites

Ahmad, F Rawat, S

Yang, R Zhang, L Zhang, YX

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Construction and Building Materials, 2025, 472, pp. 140867
Issue Date:: 2025-04-18

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ahmad, F
dc.contributor.author	Rawat, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1985-7579
dc.contributor.author	Yang, R
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, L
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, YX
dc.date.accessioned	2025-09-18T03:59:17Z
dc.date.available	2025-09-18T03:59:17Z
dc.date.issued	2025-04-18
dc.identifier.citation	Construction and Building Materials, 2025, 472, pp. 140867
dc.identifier.issn	0950-0618
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/189956
dc.description.abstract	Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) is recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with inherent fire resistance. However, its thermal and mechanical performance under fire and the underlying fire resistance mechanisms have not been well understood. This study examines the fire resistance and thermal performance of hybrid polyethylene (PE) and basalt fibre (BF) reinforced MOC-based composite (HFMOC) modified with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and metakaolin (MK), which was designed and developed to enhance the fire resistance capacity of HFMOC especially for non-structural application such as cladding. The compressive and tensile strength tests were conducted at elevated temperatures (200°C–800°C and 200°C–600°C, respectively) and the results revealed a significant strength reduction exceeding 90 % at 600°C. Moreover, the composite exhibited excellent resistance to spalling, good insulating properties, and non-combustibility, making it suitable for non-structural applications where residual strength is less critical. XRD analysis indicated that the reduction in strength at elevated temperatures was associated with the continuous degradation of the main hydration product, phase 5, which was entirely converted to MgO before 600°C. Morphological analysis verified the findings from XRD showing a weak and porous interfacial transition zone at elevated temperatures caused by the loss of crystalline phases, which was further supported by DSC analysis showing a mass loss of 36–38.1 %.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Construction and Building Materials
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140867
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering, 1202 Building
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.subject.classification	3302 Building
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	Fire resistance and thermal performance of hybrid fibre-reinforced magnesium oxychloride cement-based composites
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	472
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	1202 Building
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-09-18T03:59:13Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	472

Abstract:

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) is recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with inherent fire resistance. However, its thermal and mechanical performance under fire and the underlying fire resistance mechanisms have not been well understood. This study examines the fire resistance and thermal performance of hybrid polyethylene (PE) and basalt fibre (BF) reinforced MOC-based composite (HFMOC) modified with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and metakaolin (MK), which was designed and developed to enhance the fire resistance capacity of HFMOC especially for non-structural application such as cladding. The compressive and tensile strength tests were conducted at elevated temperatures (200°C–800°C and 200°C–600°C, respectively) and the results revealed a significant strength reduction exceeding 90 % at 600°C. Moreover, the composite exhibited excellent resistance to spalling, good insulating properties, and non-combustibility, making it suitable for non-structural applications where residual strength is less critical. XRD analysis indicated that the reduction in strength at elevated temperatures was associated with the continuous degradation of the main hydration product, phase 5, which was entirely converted to MgO before 600°C. Morphological analysis verified the findings from XRD showing a weak and porous interfacial transition zone at elevated temperatures caused by the loss of crystalline phases, which was further supported by DSC analysis showing a mass loss of 36–38.1 %.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/189956