20.500.12556/DiRROS-30101 Fibre-reinforced cement as a source of microplastics and their post-release behaviour The construction industry consumes vast amounts of plastics, but has in recent decades embraced the circular economy principles increasingly. Nevertheless, these materials degrade throughout their life cycle, and represent a non-negligible source of microplastics, contributing to one of today’s major environmental challenges. In this study we investigated the generation and properties of microplastics released from cementitious composites reinforced with polypropylene (PP) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) fibres. The two degradation scenarios (simulated wear and demolition) produced distinct particle size ranges, spanning from long fibres to fine fragments. Cement adhesion to the fibres, governed by their surface morphology and functionalisation, was identified as a factor capable of altering key properties such as the contaminant-dependent density. Complementary leaching experiments showed further that functionalised fibres exhibit a high potential for releasing organic substances. Overall, our findings highlight the need to consider multiple aspects of microplastics derived from fibre-reinforced cement when assessing their environmental implications. microplastics fibre-reinforced cement construction materials circular economy environmental impact mikroplastika vlakno-armirani cement gradbeni materiali krožno gospodarstvo vpliv na okolje true false true University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press, University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © authors of proceedings and Potrč, Bogataj, Kravanja, Novak Pintarič (editors), 2026 Neznano 2026-06-15 13:53:46 2026-06-15 14:01:01 2026-06-16 03:54:49 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Str. 105-121 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova NiDoloceno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-04-21 620.1/.2 10.18690/um.fkkt.1.2026.9 277859075 272982019 https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/en/catalog/book/1108/chapter/1128 1 e2a39126-68b0-11f1-aebd-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=45448 RAZ_Turk_Katja_2026.pdf RAZ_Turk_Katja_2026.pdf 1 A8F23DCC625B9D649D7F72D5AFF8D5A6 25bd21edfeca112cb90a9fc9188d05f14a58055b0cc1c63bceac05ee550666ca 25c96e3a-68b1-11f1-aebd-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=45451 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12556/DiRROS-24972 0 3e4f15be-68b1-11f1-aebd-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=45453 Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije Dataset for the conference paper "Fiber-reinforced cement as a source of microplastics and their post-release behaviour" 0 0 0