A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45 and 135, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

A ceramic slurry for forming a ceramic article includes a binder, a first plurality of ceramic particles having a first morphology, a second plurality of ceramic particles having a second morphology that is different from the first morphology; and a photoinitiator. A method for using this slurry for fabricating ceramic articles is presented as well.

A ceramic slurry for forming a ceramic article includes a binder, a first plurality of ceramic particles having a first morphology, a second plurality of ceramic particles having a second morphology that is different from the first morphology; and a photoinitiator. A method for using this slurry for fabricating ceramic articles is presented as well.