Surface Modification of Glass Textile for the Reinforcement of a Cement-Based Composite: A Review
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The reviewed article is very interesting. The article presents a broad research issue, often discussed now and in the past. The presented research problems were described correctly, and the questions asked found the right answers. Personally, I treat this article not only as research material but also as a well-prepared literature review providing basic knowledge on the subject. The title of the work says it all "Surface Modification of Glass Textile for the Reinforcement of Cement-Based Composite". The article is sure to find great interest among scientists from around the world.
Author Response
Thanks for your feedback.
Please find attached the last version of the paper.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
After going through the manuscript "applsci-1070834: Surface Modification of Glass Textile for the Reinforcement of Cement-Based Composite: a Review", I would give my comments below.
- I think it's a parallel work with some new review papers that publish in recent months such as:
"Ardanuy, M., Claramunt, J., & Toledo Filho, R. D. (2015). Cellulosic fiber reinforced cement-based composites: A review of recent research. Construction and building materials, 79, 115-128.",
“Gupta, M. K., & Srivastava, R. K. (2016). Mechanical properties of hybrid fibers-reinforced polymer composite: A review. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 55(6), 626-642.”
and
"Pakravan, H. R., & Memariyan, F. (2017). Modification of low-surface energy fibers used as reinforcement in cementitious composites: a review. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 56(3), 227-239."
There is not a new review manuscript for the present, so, what makes this review different from the other and from the most recent ones?
- Abstract should be rewritten. The general information should be concisely. Instead, more details of reviewed aspects should be presented.
- section of drawbacks and future could be increased quality of manuscript.
- Should be provided a comprehensive part between all of the Surface modification of reinforcement of cement-based composites in the experimental and field scale till now used.
- Introduction is written simply, most recent research and innovation in cement-based composites performances should be reviewed to show the gap of knowledge. Introduction should be extended with recent research papers.
- Figures and tables need to copyright.
- A review paper not only should summarize recently published works, but also should contain critical and comprehensive discussions. Therefore, check writing for the whole manuscript. The review should not be presented by listing what have done by others.
- Technical terms are misused through the manuscript and the writing needs a revision.
Author Response
- I think it's a parallel work with some new review papers that publish in recent months such as:
"Ardanuy, M., Claramunt, J., & Toledo Filho, R. D. (2015). Cellulosic fiber reinforced cement-based composites: A review of recent research. Construction and building materials, 79, 115-128.",
“Gupta, M. K., & Srivastava, R. K. (2016). Mechanical properties of hybrid fibers-reinforced polymer composite: A review. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 55(6), 626-642.”
and
"Pakravan, H. R., & Memariyan, F. (2017). Modification of low-surface energy fibers used as reinforcement in cementitious composites: a review. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 56(3), 227-239."
There is not a new review manuscript for the present, so, what makes this review different from the other and from the most recent ones?
The review articles suggested by the reviewer focus on types of fibers and matrices other than those analyzed in this manuscript. In fact, the first one is related to the use of cellulosic fibers, the second one is related to polymer-based matrices and the last one is a review on polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon fibers.
The innovative aspect of the proposed review is to present different methods and techniques that are appropriate for the modification of multi-filament glass textile and fabric reinforcement coupled with cement-based matrices. Moreover, since not all the modification methods are suitable for the different applications of this class of composites (mainly used as external reinforcement for existing masonry and concrete structures), the review also tries to draw some general remarks that can be helpful for the reader to understand which are the advantages and drawbacks of the proposed techniques.
- Abstract should be rewritten. The general information should be concisely. Instead, more details of reviewed aspects should be presented.
The abstract has been rewritten giving more details about the reason why modification of the reinforcement is needed and presenting more explicitly the aim of the review.
- section of drawbacks and future could be increased quality of manuscript.
A table resuming advantages and drawbacks was added at the end of the chapter “comparison of different coatings” (Table 1).
- Should be provided a comprehensive part between all of the Surface modification of reinforcement of cement-based composites in the experimental and field scale till now used.
The paper focuses on those surface modification methods that have been used or are suitable for glass fibers. Other methods such as oxidation of the fiber surfaces, which has been proposed for carbon fibers, it cannot be employed for glass textile. These methods have not been reported since in the authors’ opinion they fall outside the topic of this review.
- Introduction is written simply, most recent research and innovation in cement-based composites performances should be reviewed to show the gap of knowledge. Introduction should be extended with recent research papers.
The introduction has been implemented reporting further studies on the application of FRCM and TRC composites (Line 57) and detailing the most stringent requirements that the composites have to fulfill for practical applications (Line 92).
- Figures and tables need to copyright.
Figures and tables haven't been used in any other study, and they have been originally created or acquired by the authors or for the authors. Information about the instruments used for micro and macroscope images have been added in the figures caption.
- A review paper not only should summarize recently published works, but also should contain critical and comprehensive discussions. Therefore, check writing for the whole manuscript. The review should not be presented by listing what have done by others.
Considerations have been reported in the conclusions and implemented in the table added.
- Technical terms are misused through the manuscript and the writing needs a revision.
Terms have been reviewed and corrected when necessary.
Please find attached the latest version of the paper
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
I accept this papar without corrections
Author Response
Thanks for you feedback.
Please find attached the latest version of the paper
Reviewer 4 Report
This review paper discusses different surface modification of glass fibers for the reinforcement of cementitious matrices. The article is interesting and very well written, and in line with the aims and scope of the journal.
In this Reviewer’s opinion the manuscript could be largely accepted in its present form. It is suggested that the authors implement a few minor corrections in the manuscript before publication, as listed below.
- The authors made a comprehensive review of the problems of glass fibers in cement-based composites and of the motivations for surface modifications of glass fibers. However, in the introduction, they did not emphasize the aims of the review paper. In other words, the surface modifications of the glass fibers can be oriented to different purposes, for instance, improvement of strength, reduction of the deformability of the element, enhancing the durability of the composite, increasing the stress transfer between glass fiber and cementitious matrix, etc. In this regard, the authors could add a short paragraph clearly explaining which are the most stringent (and important) requirements for practical applications in civil and mechanical engineering of these composite systems.
- For the sake of clarity, the authors could add, maybe at the beginning of the review paper, a figure that reports, in block diagrams, the different nature of coatings, and the different surface modifications that can be applied to glass fibers as discussed in the review paper (by also mentioning the subsection in which that aspect is discussed). This reviewer believes that such an additional figure might significantly improve the quality of the review paper and may direct the reader towards the specific subsection where a particular aspect (of interest) is dealt with.
- Some additional papers on the use of glass-fibers Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems for concrete and masonry structures could be mentioned in the introduction, as they are pertinent to the aims and scope of the review paper:
Faleschini, F., Zanini, M. A., Hofer, L., Toska, K., De Domenico, D., & Pellegrino, C. (2020). Confinement of reinforced concrete columns with glass fiber reinforced cementitious matrix jackets. Engineering Structures, 218, 110847.
y Basalo, F. J. D. C., Matta, F., & Nanni, A. (2012). Fiber reinforced cement-based composite system for concrete confinement. Construction and Building Materials, 32, 55-65.
Author Response
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The authors made a comprehensive review of the problems of glass fibers in cement-based composites and of the motivations for surface modifications of glass fibers. However, in the introduction, they did not emphasize the aims of the review paper. In other words, the surface modifications of the glass fibers can be oriented to different purposes, for instance, improvement of strength, reduction of the deformability of the element, enhancing the durability of the composite, increasing the stress transfer between glass fiber and cementitious matrix, etc. In this regard, the authors could add a short paragraph clearly explaining which are the most stringent (and important) requirements for practical applications in civil and mechanical engineering of these composite systems.
The following paragraph has been added at the end of the introduction:(Line 92)
“The increase of the stress transfer between the filaments and the improvement of the glass fibers durability are the two most important aspects that need to be addressed. However, for practical applications other requirements should also be taken in consideration. For example, textiles employed for the reinforcement of existing structures with complex geometry have to be enough flexible to easily adapt to the substrate. Moreover, protect the textile from external abrasion can prevent the reinforcement to be damaged when handled, making easier and safer its application. In order to address these requirements, different coatings have been successfully employed. Polymeric coatings are the first and most widely employed ones, but more recently inorganic coatings have also been proposed. Alternatively, some studies investigated the possibility to modify organic coatings with nanoclay particles to improve the chemical interaction of the polymer with the matrix and to enhance the durability in alkaline environments. Aim of this review is to present the different methods that have been proposed for the modification of glass textiles employed in cement-based composites, and to give an overview of their main advantages and drawbacks.”
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For the sake of clarity, the authors could add, maybe at the beginning of the review paper, a figure that reports, in block diagrams, the different nature of coatings, and the different surface modifications that can be applied to glass fibers as discussed in the review paper (by also mentioning the subsection in which that aspect is discussed). This reviewer believes that such an additional figure might significantly improve the quality of the review paper and may direct the reader towards the specific subsection where a particular aspect (of interest) is dealt with.
A table was added at the end of chapter 4.3 which summarizes the advantages and drawbacks of the different solutions reviewed and schematizes the different nature of coatings employed.
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Some additional papers on the use of glass-fibers Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems for concrete and masonry structures could be mentioned in the introduction, as they are pertinent to the aims and scope of the review paper:
Faleschini, F., Zanini, M. A., Hofer, L., Toska, K., De Domenico, D., & Pellegrino, C. (2020). Confinement of reinforced concrete columns with glass fiber reinforced cementitious matrix jackets. Engineering Structures, 218, 110847.
y Basalo, F. J. D. C., Matta, F., & Nanni, A. (2012). Fiber reinforced cement-based composite system for concrete confinement. Construction and Building Materials, 32, 55-65.
The introduction has been implemented reporting further studies on the application of FRCM and TRC composites. Line 57
Please find attached the latest version of the paper
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
This manuscript presents an interesting review on the use of glass fibers in cementitious composites and the methods to modify the surface of the fiber.
The structure of the review is appropriate and the objective is well identified. Some amendments might be carried out to improve the final version:
As a general remark, the authors should improve the references of their review.
- Reference 10 is incomplete
- Only 20 over 67 total references belong to the most recent period 2015-2021. Please, revise and provide the most recent findings.
Lines 138-140: please, provide citations about the use of fibers in lime-based mortars.
Fig. 1: provide details about the origin of the micrographs (study, authors, conditions).
Line 351: write better Atomic Force Microscopy.
Author Response
Reference 10 is incomplete
There was an error in the .bib file (a missing bracket), it has been corrected
Only 20 over 67 total references belong to the most recent period 2015-2021. Please, revise and provide the most recent findings.
Some of the oldest articles cited in the introduction have been replaced with more recent studies.
Further studies conducted by Weichold on the use of cement in polymer dispersed coatings have been added.
Line 440
Lines 138-140: please, provide citations about the use of fibers in lime-based mortars.
The following citations have been added.
Mechtcherine, V.; Schneider, K.; Brameshuber, W. 2 - Mineral-based matrices for textile-reinforced concrete. In Textile Fibre Composites in Civil Engineering; Triantafillou, T., Ed.; Woodhead Publishing, 2016; pp. 25 – 43. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-78242-446-8.00003-3.
Alecci, V.; De Stefano, M.; Focacci, F.; Luciano, R.; Rovero, L.; Stipo, G. Strengthening Masonry Arches with Lime-Based Mortar Composite. Buildings 2017, 7, 49. doi:10.3390/buildings7020049.
Fig. 1: provide details about the origin of the micrographs (study, authors, conditions).
Figures haven't been used in any other study and have been originally created or acquired by the authors. Information about the instruments used for micro and macroscope images have been added in the figure caption.
Line 351: write better Atomic Force Microscopy.
Done.
please find attached the latest version of the paper
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
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