Thermoelectric properties of carbon reinforced concrete

• Main Author: Tan, Xue Shen.
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/49412
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The uses for carbon fiber reinforced concrete (CFRC) has expanding in recent times. While the world is turning to cleaner and greener options for the power supply, the thermoelectric properties of CFRC may prove to play a significant role in the near future. The processes of casting CFRC as well as carbon nanotube reinforced concrete (CNTRC) samples is examined in detail, while limitations and problems observed are also highlighted. The 2-­‐probe testing phase in which the Seeback coefficients of the samples are determined is also examined in detail. Lower concentrations of carbon fibers tend to produce more unstable readings. In this report, the linearity of the curves with respect to the Seeback coefficient can be seen to improve, from 0.4% to 2.0%, while lower concentrations tend to reflect a semi-­‐conductor like behaviour with relatively erratic results. CNTRC samples, on the other hand, produced inconclusive results, and reflected similar behaviour to the 0% carbon fiber concentration sample. 4-­‐probe resistivity testing methods have been used to determine the resistivity, but the results have not proved to be reliable. The use carbon fiber or carbon nanotube reinforced concrete may yet play a significant role in creating another source of power for mankind, and such research may well open the world to new possibilities.