Preparation and study of light transmitting properties of sulfoaluminate cement-based materials

• LTSCM is made of high consistency and high strength BCSA mortar, and PMMA fibers.
• Compressive and flexural strength is larger than 60 MPa, and 9 MPa, respectively.
• Transmittance drops with increasing spacing, and rises with increasing fiber volume.
• The matrix is compact, while lots of voids exist on the fiber–matrix interface.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) optical fibers with two types of diameters were uniformly arranged in sulfoaluminate mortar by different methods. Light transmitting sulfoaluminate cement-based materials (LTSCM) were prepared. Optical and mechanical properties of LTSCM were studied. The compressive strength decreased linearly with increasing volume fraction of optical fiber in LTSCM. Compressive strength of specimen after 80 °C water bath was larger than that of specimen under standard curing conditions. According to CCD technology, brightness of optical fiber in different positions of LTSCM can be exhibited clearly. Light transmitting performance of LTSCM was tested by optical power method. Transmittance of specimen decreased with increasing spacing between the detector and specimen. Optical power increased with increasing number of fiber and with increasing diameter of fiber. Transmittance of fiber was weakened due to water bath at high temperature. Voids existed between the fiber and matrix.

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