Development of fluorescent basalt fiber with nanocomposite sizing for acid indication and anti-counterfeiting

Abstract

This paper reported the development of functional basalt fiber with nanocomposite sizing consisting of epoxy and ZnO nanoparticles. Various techniques were employed to characterize the morphology, mechanical, and optical properties of fiber samples. The results showed that the nanocomposite sizing increased the surface roughness of fiber, endowed the non-luminescent filament with tunable color from blue to yellow under the ultraviolet light, and also significantly enhanced the strength of the fiber. More interestingly, the developed fiber was highly sensitive to H+ ions and had strong anti-counterfeiting behavior with high recognition, thus providing a simple way to improve the functionality of basalt fiber with excellent fluorescent and mechanical performance for potential applications in various fields.