Abstract
In this study, basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites with epoxy matrix, 20 layers, and volume fraction of fibers Vf = 53.66%, were prepared by a hand lay-up compression molding combined method. The fabric of the basalt fibers is in twill 2/2 weave. Through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), their viscoelastic behavior at elevated temperatures and in various frequencies was explored, whereas thermomechanical analysis (TMA) took part in terms of creep recovery and stress-relaxation tests. Moreover, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the BFRP composites was determined through the peak of the tanδ curves while the decomposition of the BFRP composites and basalt fibers, in air or nitrogen atmosphere, was explored through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical behavior of the BFRP composites was investigated by tensile and three-point bending experiments. The results showed that as the frequency is raised, the BFRP composites can achieve slightly higher Tg while, under the same circumstances, the storage modulus curve obtains a less steep decrease in the middle transition region. Moreover, the hand lay-up compression molding hybrid technique can be characterized as efficient for the preparation of polymer matrix composites with a relatively high Vf of over 50%. Remarkably, through the TGA experiments, the excellent thermal resistance of the basalt fibers, in the temperature range 30–900 °C, was revealed.
Highlights
Nowadays, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are broadly used, with the most use in critical applications
The results showed that the basalt fiber-reinforced composites with epoxy matrix had higher ultimate tensile strength and ultimate compressive strength than the one with vinylester matrix [16]
basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites with relatively high volume fraction of fibers (Vf) over 50% were successfully fabricated and were experimentally investigated through various thermal analysis and mechanical behavior tests
Summary
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are broadly used, with the most use in critical applications. These composites have proved their significant mechanical behavior in various applications whereas research on them, using various materials and methods for their production, is still ongoing. The usual applications of the FRPs are in the aerospace, marine, automotive, and construction industries [1]. Due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and light weight, the FRP composites are appealing in civil engineering applications [2]. It must be noted that these materials have generally remarkable costs, so the applications must verify them and the parameters such as fibers’ architecture and composites’ production method affect the properties of the FRP composites to a great extent
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