Use of gasification char and recycled carbon fibres for sustainable and durable low-resistivity cement-based composites

In this paper, a newly developed cement and two recycled carbon-based materials, namely gasification char (GCH) and recycled carbon fibres (RCF), were used to manufacture new sustainable and low-resistivity cement-based composites. GCH was added at 0.5% and 1.0%, whereas RCF at 0.2%, on the total mortar volume. Microstructural, mechanical, electrical, and durability properties were studied. Results show that both additions decrease the electrical resistivity of mortars up to 90%, without impairing their mechanical properties. Moreover, they slightly reduce drying shrinkage and capillary water absorption of mortars, by decreasing total porosity and the average pore diameter, for the benefit of durability.