Development and Multiscale Characterisation of a Sustainable Hybrid Polymer–Cementitious Composite

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 04 | Page :
By

Mayuri Dnyaneshwar Ahirrao,

Rakesh Patel,

Chaitanya Mishra,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
  2. Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
  3. Head of the Department, Department of Civil Engineering, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The development of sustainable polymer–cementitious composites has gained increasing attention as a strategy for reducing virgin resource consumption while improving the mechanical and functional performance of cement-based materials. This study investigates a hybrid composite incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), distilled sewage water (DSW), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and polypropylene (PP) fibres. Four mixtures, namely C0–C3, were developed by progressively increasing SCBA from 0 to 15%, DSW from 0 to 20%, SBR polymer solids from 0 to 5%, and PP fibre from 0 to 0.50%. The fresh and hardened behaviour of the composites was evaluated through workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, and water absorption. In addition, SEM, XRD, FTIR, and TGA–DTG analyses were conducted to establish the microstructural, mineralogical, chemical, and thermal characteristics of the selected composites. The results demonstrated a progressive reduction in workability with increasing modification, with slump values decreasing from 92 mm for C0 to 68 mm for C3. Among the investigated mixtures, C2 (10% SCBA + 10% DSW + 3.5% SBR + 0.50% PP fibre) exhibited the best-performing combined formulation, achieving 28-day compressive, flexural, and split tensile strengths of 40.5, 4.85, and 3.72 MPa, respectively. Compared with C0, these values correspond to improvements of approximately 17.1%, 18.3%, and 18.1%. The 14-day water absorption of C2 was also reduced to 4.28%, compared with 5.18% for C0. SEM revealed dense C–S–H formation, refined pores, SBR polymer-film formation, SCBA–matrix interaction, and effective PP fibre embedding and bridging. XRD and FTIR confirmed the coexistence of silicate-rich mineral phases, hydration products, and polymer-associated functional groups, while TGA–DTG demonstrated distinct thermal decomposition stages and a higher residual mass for C3 at 1000°C. Overall, the findings demonstrate that controlled integration of mineral, polymeric, and fibre phases can produce a sustainable hybrid composite with improved mechanical performance, reduced water absorption, and favorable microstructural characteristics, with C2 providing the most balanced composition among the investigated mixtures.

Keywords: Hybrid polymer–cementitious composite; Sugarcane bagasse ash; Distilled sewage water; Styrene–butadiene rubber; Polypropylene fibre; Sustainable composites; Fibre–matrix interface; Microstructural characterization; Water absorption; Mechanical performance

How to cite this article: Mayuri Dnyaneshwar Ahirrao, Rakesh Patel, Chaitanya Mishra. Development and Multiscale Characterisation of a Sustainable Hybrid Polymer–Cementitious Composite. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-.
How to cite this URL: Mayuri Dnyaneshwar Ahirrao, Rakesh Patel, Chaitanya Mishra. Development and Multiscale Characterisation of a Sustainable Hybrid Polymer–Cementitious Composite. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=255604

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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
04
Received 18/08/2026
Accepted 12/09/2026
Published 14/09/2026
Publication Time 27 Days

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