Alkali-activated fly ash composites with canine-fibre reinforcementHorvat, Barbara (Avtor) Železnik, Nadja (Avtor) Petrič, Lara (Avtor) Tominc, Sara (Avtor) alkali-activated materialsfly ashkeratin-based fibresChesapeake Bay Retrievercircular economyThe study investigates alkali-activated fly ash (FA) composites reinforced with keratin-based fibres from Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. To increase reactivity, the FA was milled and sieved below 125 μm, while the fibres were incorporated at two mass ratios (1 m% and 5 m%) relative to the FA as part of the preliminary study. Mechanical tests on 3-day-old composites showed that the addition of 1 m% fibres improved performance significantly, increasing the compressive strength by almost 50% (to ~70 MPa) and bending strength by over 30%. In contrast, the addition of 5 m% fibres resulted in a “hairy”, low-binder structure with reduced geometric density and compressive strength. Nevertheless, the fibre- rich composite displayed a unique cushioning effect that restored shape under cyclic pressure, suggesting potential for non-structural applications such as pathways or insulation. The results demonstrated that small additions of keratin fibres can improve the performance of AAM, but excessive fibre content compromises its strength.University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press, University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering20262026-05-15 13:02:34Neznano29401UDK: 620.1/.2DOI: 10.18690/um.fkkt.1.2026.1COBISS_ID: 276533763OceCobissID: 272982019sl© authors of proceedings and Potrč, Bogataj, Kravanja, Novak Pintarič (editors)