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Polymers
Volume 17
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10.3390/polym17070970
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Review

Performance and Applications of Polymer Fiber Rubber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review

by
Jie Liu
1,2,
Wantao Xu
1,
Guansheng Li
1,
Bing Chen
1,
Yi Xiao
1,
Huiping Huang
3 and
Juanjuan Chen
4,*
1
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
2
Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center for Green Civil Engineering Materials and Structures, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
3
Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of Ministry of Education, National Engineering Research Center for Prestressing Technology, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
4
School of Architecture Engineering, College of Post and Telecommunication of WIT, Wuhan 430073, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070970
Submission received: 5 March 2025 / Revised: 29 March 2025 / Accepted: 31 March 2025 / Published: 2 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Circularity Towards Carbon Neutrality)
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Abstract

Polymer fiber rubber-reinforced concrete (PFRRC) represents a high-performance composite material that synergistically integrates the energy absorption of rubber concrete (RC) and the crack resistance of polymer fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC). This review systematically evaluates the mechanical and durability properties of PFRRC, emphasizing its potential to overcome the intrinsic brittleness of conventional concrete while enhancing structural resilience. Experimental results indicate that PFRRC exhibits significant improvements in compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, with increases of up to 29%, 38%, and 66%, respectively, compared to RC. Furthermore, it demonstrates exceptional impact resistance, with energy absorption capabilities up to 10 times greater than that of ordinary concrete. The hybrid composite also demonstrates enhanced durability, including reduced chloride ion penetration (24.5% lower diffusion coefficient) and improved freeze–thaw resistance. However, challenges remain in optimizing rubber–polymer interactions, fiber hybridization ratios, and performance under extreme conditions. By addressing these limitations, PFRRC holds transformative potential for sustainable infrastructure, particularly in road engineering, seismic-resistant structures, and protective systems.
Keywords: polymer fiber; rubber; concrete; mechanical properties; civil engineering polymer fiber; rubber; concrete; mechanical properties; civil engineering

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, J.; Xu, W.; Li, G.; Chen, B.; Xiao, Y.; Huang, H.; Chen, J. Performance and Applications of Polymer Fiber Rubber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review. Polymers 2025, 17, 970. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070970

AMA Style

Liu J, Xu W, Li G, Chen B, Xiao Y, Huang H, Chen J. Performance and Applications of Polymer Fiber Rubber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review. Polymers. 2025; 17(7):970. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070970

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Jie, Wantao Xu, Guansheng Li, Bing Chen, Yi Xiao, Huiping Huang, and Juanjuan Chen. 2025. "Performance and Applications of Polymer Fiber Rubber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review" Polymers 17, no. 7: 970. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070970

APA Style

Liu, J., Xu, W., Li, G., Chen, B., Xiao, Y., Huang, H., & Chen, J. (2025). Performance and Applications of Polymer Fiber Rubber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review. Polymers, 17(7), 970. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070970

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