Strength Enhancement of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Laminates with Biowaste Catalyst Free Carbon Nanospheres

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the effects of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) on the tensile properties of basalt fibre-reinforced epoxy composite laminate (BFR). The CNSs were obtained from an economical fibrous residue attained from the sago palm tree, which is known as biowaste sago bark. Hand lay-up method was used to fabricate the unidirectional basalt fibre-reinforced epoxy composite laminates. The epoxy resin was mixed with carbon nanosphere particles (i.e., 0.6 wt% - 1 wt %). Tensile tests have been conducted as per ASTM standards. In addition, emphasis on the microstructural investigation using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is given, in order to study the fracture surfaces of the composite laminates. The results demonstrated significant improvement in tensile strength when carbon nanosphere particles were included in the basalt fibre-reinforced epoxy composite laminate. The best result was obtained at 1.0 wt% CNSs. It displayed an increment of 80.6% in tensile strength, and 120% increment in Young’s modulus, respectively, in comparison to neat basalt fibre-reinforced epoxy composite laminate. The improved accomplishment of CNSs/ basalt fibre-reinforced epoxy composite laminate is due to good distribution of CNSs particles in the epoxy matrix.