Composition having plasma-treated recycled steel fibers

A method of producing a component, comprising the steps:

• (i) cleaning recycled steel macrofibers,
• wherein said macrofibers are of lengths between about 18 to about 38 mm and in diameters between about 0.38 to about 0.63 mm,
• wherein the recycled steel macrofibers are cleaned by plasma treatment to remove organic contamination, remove surface oxides, increase surface hydrophilic property, and improve adhesion,
• wherein the plasma treatment is selected from the group consisting of:
• Argon plasma micro-sandblasting, Hydrogen plasma treatment for removal of surface oxides on the recycled steel fibers, Nitrogen plasma treatment, and Oxygen plasma treatment;
• (ii) surface-modifying the recycled steel macrofibers using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition to coat the recycled steel macrofibers with one or more layers selected from the group consisting of:
• carbon, carbon nanotubes, and mixtures thereof;
• (iii) surface energy modifying the recycled steel macrofibers using plasma treatment to have one or more ultra-thin layers of a film that adjusts wetting properties to improve of the wettability and increase the mixability of the macrofibers in a cement composition;
• (iv) mixing first constituents comprising:
• cement of Blaine fineness of about 280 to about 360 m2/kg;
• sand, wherein said sand is provided at a mass ratio of about 0.75 to about 1.25 of said cement;
• silica fume, wherein said silica fume is provided at a mass ratio of about 0.15 to about 0.4 of said cement;
• silica flour, wherein said silica flour is provided at a mass ratio of about 0.15 to about 0.3 of said cement;
• microinclusions, wherein said microinclusions are provided at a mass ratio of up to about 0.35 of said cement, and
• wherein said mixing results in a first homogeneous mix;
• (v) mixing second constituents comprising:
• at least one high-range water-reducing admixture;
• and
• water,
• wherein said water is provided at a mass ratio of about 0.2 to about 0.35 of said cement, and
• wherein said mixing of said second constituents results in a second homogenous mix;
• (vi) mixing said first homogeneous mix with said second homogeneous mix to form a uniform cement-containing paste;
• (vii) blending the recycled steel macrofibers into said uniform cement-containing paste,
• wherein said macrofibers are provided at a mass ratio of up to about 0.35 of said cement,
• wherein said recycled steel macrofibers are blended until distributed approximately uniformly in the resultant cement-containing paste;
• (viii) forming said resultant cement-containing paste in the shape of said component, wherein said forming is done by techniques selected from the group consisting of:
• spin casting, extrusion molding, pressure molding, pouring into forms, and combinations thereof;
• and
• (ix) curing said component by placing in an environment of approximately 100% relative humidity for about seven days at ambient temperature, then submersing in water of approximately 85° C. to about 91° C. for about three to about five days, and then heating in air at approximately 85° C. to about 91° C. for about one to about two days.