Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Research Articles

Investigations on the mechanical and life cycle properties of novel marine-based sustainable BFRP composites

This study explores the potential of utilizing sea sand and recycled green materials in Basalt Fibre Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) composites to address the challenges of sand scarcity and promote sustainable development in coastal projects. Waste seashell powder (10 % and 20 %) and waste rubber powder (5 % and 10 %) were partially incorporated as replacements for sea sand in BFRP composites. The influence of various percentages of waste seashell powder and waste rubber powder on key parameters like workability, density, water absorption, mechanical properties and shrinkage were examined. Testing results demonstrated that all BFRP composite mixes exhibited moderate workability, slightly decreasing with waste seashell and rubber powder inclusion. Notably, the utilization of waste seashell powder significantly improved compressive strength (around 40 %), elastic modulus (around 35 %), tensile strength (up to 178 %), and flexural strength (up to 70 %). Adding waste rubber powder resulted in a decrease in strength. In combination, the incorporation of waste seashell and powder typically improved the mechanical performance while significantly reducing shrinkage. Moreover, the life cycle assessment (LCA) revealed that BFRP composites incorporating waste materials demonstrated a significantly lower environmental impact compared to traditional epoxy and GFRP composites, particularly in terms of carbon emission and resource depletion. The cost analysis further underscored the economic viability of BFRP composites, especially in coastal regions where the procurement of traditional fillers is both costly and logistically challenging.

Constructing flexible fiber bridging claws of micro/nano short aramid fiber at interlayer of basalt fiber reinforced polymer for improving compressive strength with and without impact

The high-performance Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) composites have been prepared by guiding Micro/Nano Short Aramid Fiber (MNSAF) into the interlayer to improve the resin-rich region and the interfacial transition region, and the flexible fiber bridging claws of MNSAF were constructed to grasp the adjacent layers for stronger interlaminar bond. The low-velocity impact results show that the MNSAF could improve the impact resistance of BFRP composites. The compression test results demonstrate that the compressive strength and the residual compressive strength after impact of MNSAF-reinforced BFRP composites were greater than those of unreinforced one, exhibiting the greatest 56.2% and 73.3% increments respectively for BFRP composites improved by 4 wt% MNSAF. X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning results indicate that the “fiber bridging claws” contributed to better mechanical interlocking to inhibit the crack generation and propagation under impact and compression load, and the original delamination-dominated failure of unreinforced BFRP composites was altered into shear-dominated failure of MNSAF-reinforced BFRP composites. Overall, the MNSAF interleaving might be an effective method in manufacturing high-performance laminated fiber in industrial production.

Multifunctional basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites with in-situ damage self-sensing and temperature-sensitive behavior

In this work, a multifunctional basalt fiber reinforced polymer composite (BFRP) with damage self-sensing and temperature-sensitive behavior was developed. Firstly, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on basalt fibers (BF) by electrostatic self-assembly. Then, strong shear forces were applied during melt mixing with polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) to construct a structure of CNTs surrounding the BF (CSB). This CSB structure endowed the composite with a low percolation threshold (0.82 wt% CNTs), a high conductivity (1.53 × 10−2 S/m at 1.12 wt% CNTs) and enhanced mechanical properties. The combination of resistance and acoustic emission real-time measurements confirmed that the composite achieved an excellent damage self-sensing capability with a maximum gauge factor (GF) of 7.68. Moreover, the composite exhibited a temperature-sensitive behavior with a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 0.542 %/°C. This study provides a significant guidance for the development of multifunctional BFRP with damage self-sensing and temperature sensitive behavior.

Effect of seawater corrosion on the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites modified by silane coupling agent KH560 and carboxylated carbon nanotubes

Basalt fiber reinforced composite (BFRP) has been widely used in various engineering fields, while the corrosion resistance of BFRP in harsh environments needs to be improved. In this work, the effects of seawater corrosion on mechanical properties of silane coupling agent (KH560) and carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified basalt fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites (BF/EP) were studied by simulating seawater corrosion under different conditions. The results showed that with the increase in corrosion time and temperature, the flexural performance and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the composite material significantly decreased. Under the same corrosion conditions, the modified basalt fiber composite has better corrosion resistance to seawater than the untreated one due to an enhanced "soft-rigid" multi-scale stress transfer region between the BF and resin matrix. The flexural strength, flexural modulus and ILSS of modified basalt fiber composites decreased by 17.7 %, 12.2 % and 11.3 %, respectively, after 7 weeks of seawater corrosion at 60 °C, while that of untreated basalt fiber composites decreased by 28.2 %, 20.4 % and 19.7 %, respectively. In addition, the corrosion of distilled water on basalt fiber composites was also studied. Similarly, the modified basalt fiber composites showed better corrosion resistance to distilled water compared to the untreated basalt fiber composites. The research shows that the synergistic modification of KH560 and CNTs can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of BF/EP. This work is significant for promoting the development of BFRP and its application in marine environment.

Failure analysis of glass fiber and basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites under an extreme environment with high‐temperature, high‐pressure and H2S/CO2 exposure

AbstractFiber‐reinforced polymers composites (FRPs) are widely used in the industrial field, but their failure mechanism in extreme environments is usually unclear. In this work, the effect of high‐temperature, high‐pressure and H2S/CO2 extreme environment, similar to oil and gas field conditions, on raw fibers and unidirectional FRPs was investigated. The results showed that the glass fibers (GFs) suffered extensive degradation with the presence of metal sulfides in the precipitate, whereas basalt fibers (BFs) showed localized degradation. The flexural modulus of glass fiber reinforced polymer composite (GFRP) after degradation decreased by 28.8% compared to 25.6% for the basalt fiber reinforced polymer composite (BFRP). The interlaminar shear strength and flexural strength of the BFRP decreased by 20.3% and 24.7% respectively. In contrast, the GFRP had a reduction of 55.2% in flexural strength after degradation. Finite element method (FEM) analysis showed that the GFRP exhibited severe cohesive interface damage, while the primary failure mode of BFRP remained essentially unchanged with a combination of fiber damage and cohesive interface damage. This study confirms the superior degradation resistance of BF/BFRP over GF/GFRP in the simulated environment and highlights its promising application potential in oil and gas field service.Highlights Filament winding was used to fabricate the GFRP and BFRP. Revealed distinct surface morphology changes in GFs and BFs under simulated oil and gas field conditions. Superior degradation resistance of BFRP over GFRP was found in the extreme environment. Demonstrated superior chemical stability and mechanical properties of BFRP over GFRP. Used FEM to investigate the failure modes of FRPs before and after exposure.

Fatigue behavior of symmetric and asymmetric carbon and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer composites in transverse loading

Fatigue behavior of symmetric and asymmetric carbon and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer composites in transverse loading

Experimental investigation of RC beams strengthened with externally bonded BFRP composites

Abstract Objectives The goal of this article is to examine the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) rays that strengthen superficially the basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) fabrics. We found out that one ray without BFRP and seven rays enveloped within numerous lay-up arrangements. The importance of the study is to improve the flexural capacity of rays, using fiber-reinforced polymer procedure and examine the over-reinforcement technique. Methods Interestingly, we have examined under two-point loading, one BFRP fabric sheet flexure. Results Loads corresponding to the first crack/delamination and ultimate failure of the beams have been verified. Moreover, we have recognized the types of failure and load contrasted with deflection graphs that have been strategized at outstanding ray locations. Novelty Our investigation has unraveled the increased flexural strength of the strengthened RC rays after using coating. Additionally, we have applied pressure to the BFRP fabrics on both sides of the beams. Moreover, we have improved performance with flexural strength, ductility, and failure. Our results are novel and show that the flexural capacity of the wrapped RC rays increases by 46.6%. The ductility increased by 84%, and unfortunately, we had failed the FRB and the concrete had crushed.

Ballistic and Charpy impact performance of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites

AbstractIn this study, the behavior of composite material produced using basalt, a natural fabric, under ballistic and Charpy impact loads was investigated. The damage resistance of target plates under ballistic loads is an important design parameter in the structures that will be exposed to these loads. Cross‐ply fiber‐reinforced composite plates were produced with different numbers of layers. The composite specimens are produced using the vacuum infusion method, cross‐ply laminated with 3, 6, 9, and 12 layers ([0/90]3, [0/90]6, [0/90]9, and [0/90]12). Carbon/Epoxy specimens were also produced in identical sequences to be used as comparison material. The study aimed to understand the absorbed energy under ballistic loads and the required energy level under the Charpy impact loads of Basalt/Epoxy composite specimens with different thicknesses. Ballistic loads are applied to the specimens using a test set‐up including the sample holder mechanism and a firing system. Charpy impact tests were conducted using a standard test machine. According to the results, for 12‐layer specimens, the residual velocity difference between Basalt/Epoxy and Carbon/Epoxy is approximately 1.5 times. For the Basalt/Epoxy plate, increasing number of layers from 3 to 12 increases the amount of energy absorbed approximately 13 times. Although this increase is approximately 19 times for the Carbon/epoxy plate, when Basalt/Epoxy and Carbon/Epoxy plates are compared, Basalt/Epoxy absorbs more energy for all layer numbers. For the Charpy impact cases, it has been observed that Basalt/Epoxy absorbs approximately 34% more energy for flat wise impact and approximately 24% more energy for edgewise impact.Highlights The behavior of composite material produced using basalt, a natural fabric. Cross‐ply fiber‐reinforced composite plates. Effect of different number of layers considered. The damage resistance of target plates under ballistic loads. Comparison of basalt and carbon‐reinforced composites.

Axial compressive behavior and model analysis of BFRP-jacketed corroded and pre-damaged circular reinforced concrete columns

Corrosion of steel reinforcements degrades the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) columns under static and seismic loads. Such corroded RC columns are usually retrofitted with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). However, existing studies on the retrofitting of RC columns with corrosion and load-induced damage are limited. To confirm the effectiveness of basalt FRP (BFRP) jacketing on the compressive behavior of corroded and pre-damaged RC columns, this study performed axial compression tests on eleven circular RC columns. The columns were fabricated, corroded, pre-damaged, and then jacketed with BFRP composites and reloaded to investigate the effects of BFRP layer number, corrosion ratio, and pre-damage degree. When jacketed by BFRP, the ultimate strength and ultimate strain of RC columns increased with BFRP layer numbers, ranging from 5% to 98% and 448% to 926%, respectively. Further, the ultimate strength and elastic modulus of the jacketed RC columns decreased with the increase in pre-damage degrees and corrosion ratios, while the ultimate strain was little affected. Buckling and corrosion of longitudinal bars significantly reduced the bar stresses at the ultimate state of BFRP-jacketed RC columns and resulted in local rupture of BFRP. This adverse effect became more pronounced as the corrosion ratio increased, but was alleviated by BFRP jacketing. On the other hand, a refined rebar stress-strain model was developed by addressing the effects of buckling, corrosion, and lateral confinement. Further, a feasible constitutive model for corroded hoop-confined columns was determined by validating the existing test results. Finally, models for the ultimate strength, ultimate strain, and stress-strain response of BFRP-jacketed corroded and pre-damaged RC columns were developed.

Constructing quasi-vertical fiber bridging behaviors of aramid pulp at interlayer of laminated basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites to improve flexural performances

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) composites have huge potential application respects for some civil fields due to enough strength/modulus to weight and low cost by replacing carbon fiber composites. Aiming at the issues in the Resin-Rich Region (RRR) and Interfacial Transition Region (ITR) of fiber reinforced polymer composites, the characteristic Aramid Pulp (AP) fibers with micro-fiber trunk and nano-fiber branches were manufactured into multiple non-woven ultra-thin interleaving at the interlayers of BFRP composites via compression molding to reinforce the flexural strengths and elastic moduli. AP fibers were introduced into RRR to form interleaving at the interlayer, the brittle epoxy adhesive layer was improved and enabled to avoid cracking under a low external load. Free fiber branches of AP were also embedded into BF layer to construct quasi-vertical fiber bridging behaviors in ITR, stronger mechanical interlocking was created to prevent crack propagation along the bonding interface of BF/epoxy. Three-point bending testing results showed the interleaving film with 4 g/m2 AP exhibited the best effect among various areal densities and yielded average 315.75 MPa in flexural strength and 21.38 GPa in elastic modulus, having a 63.4% increment and a 47.1% increment respectively compared with the bases. Overall, the simple and low-cost AP interleaving is confirmed as an effective method in improving interlayer structure and flexural performance of BFRP composites, which may be considered to manufacture high-performance laminated fiber reinforced polymer composites in civil aviation industry.

Electrical, mechanical and damage self-sensing properties of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites modified by electrophoretic deposition

In this work, basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) with enhanced electrical, mechanical properties and in-situ damage self-sensing capability was prepared using carboxylic carbon nanotubes (COOH-CNTs) modified BF fabrics via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) at different voltages. The BFRP with BF fabrics modified at a deposition voltage of 20 ​V (EPD20-BFRP) showed the lowest electrical resistivity. Compared with unmodified BFRP, the tensile and flexual moduli of EPD20-BFRP increased by 37.5 ​% and 14.9 ​%, respectively. Single-layer EPD20-BFRP exhibited a high gauge factor (GF) of 44.3 during tensile damage self-sensing. The acoustic emission (AE) signals during tensile and flexual damage process agreed well with the relative resistance changes (RRC), which confirmed different damage stages within loading process, such as elastic deformation, damage evolution, crack coalescence, and complete fracture. In addition, the multi-layer BFRP containing a single-layer EPD20-BFRP on the upper or lower surface of laminate exhibited distinct electrical signal responses subjected to the flexural loading.

Investigation of Erosion Effect on Surface of Basalt Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites

In the present study the erosion behavior of basalt fibre reinforced composite was studied. Slurry pot erosion test were conducted on the composite samples with 30%, 40% 50% and 60% reinforcement. Slurry concentration, speed and contact angle were considered as the parameters. The sand particles from the range of 212, 425 and 600µm were suspended in the water. The results revels that the slurry erosion was found to be increased with slurry concentration and the turning speed. The impact angle with 900 has the major influence on the erosion. The highest mass loss due to erosion is found in the sample with 30% reinforcement and the minimal mass loss due to erosion is found in the sample with 60% reinforcement.

Surface sizing introducing carbon nanotubes for interfacial bond strengthening of basalt fiber–reinforced polymer composites

Surface sizing introducing carbon nanotubes for interfacial bond strengthening of basalt fiber–reinforced polymer composites

Analysis and modelling of thrust force in drilling of basalt and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP and CFRP) composites

Currently, the use of sustainable products and technologies is growing; consequently, mineral-origin basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites are becoming more popular in industries. Although BFRP parts require mechanical drilling operations for manufacturing holes for assembly, many challenges make the drilling process difficult. Considering that the cutting force is one of the main parameters characterising the drilling process, this study aims to analyse the influence of feed (mm/rev) and cutting speed (m/min) on the thrust force and model the thrust force in the drilling of BFRP composites through response surface methodology (RSM) and advanced statistical modelling methods. In order to determine main and interaction effects and to calculate the regression coefficients and model parameters, mechanical drilling experiments were performed, and the thrust force was recorded. The raw force data were processed using fast Fourier transformation-based low-pass filtering, and then the calculated thrust force parameters were evaluated relative to various feeds and cutting speeds. In addition, results were compared with those of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The results of the validation experiments show that both RSM and advanced statistical models accurately predict the thrust force in BFRPs of 96.74% and 95.01%, respectively. However, the advanced statistical model can describe not only the maximum values of the force but also its characteristics at a coefficient of determination of 0.68.

A Review on Basalt Fiber and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites: Advancement and Industrial Applications

Abstract: Basalt fiber is a type of mineral fiber that is derived from basalt rock. It has excellent mechanical properties, high resistance to chemicals, superior thermal stability, and good resistance to moisture. Additionally, it is environmentally friendly as it can be easily recycled. All these properties are better when compared to E-glass, which uses many industries for structural applications. The use of basalt fiber reinforced composites (FRC) in industries is still limited because there isn't enough information available about them and their production is not yet at a large scale. This makes them more expensive to produce, which reduces their adoption in industrial applications. This paper critically evaluates the current knowledge and understanding of basalt FRC and highlights the growing interest in researching and publishing articles related to basalt composites. In addition to reviewing the current state of knowledge on basalt fiber reinforced composites, this paper also shares information about the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of basalt fibers. It also includes some data on the environmental impact of producing basalt fiber reinforced composites and reviews the typical industrial applications where they can be used.

An Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Glued Laminated Beams Strengthened by Pre-Stressed Basalt Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Bars

Damage often develops in glued laminated timber members under high bending loads due to natural defects in the timber, which results in their low load-bearing capacity and stiffness. In order to improve the bending mechanical properties of glulam beams, a new type of longitudinal glulam reinforcement with pre-stressed basalt fibre-reinforced polymer composites (BFRP) was developed using the Near Surface Mounted (NSM) technique. The strengthening method consisted of two pre-stressed BFRP bars glued into the grooves at the bottom side of the beam; meanwhile, for the second strengthening alternative, the third BFRP bar was embedded into the groove at the top side of the beam. Therefore, an experimental study was carried out to verify this strengthening technique, in which fifteen full-size timber beams were tested with and without bonded BFRP bar reinforcement in three series. According to the results of this experimental study, it can be seen that the effective load-bearing capacity of the reinforced beams increased up to 36% and that the stiffness of the beams increased by 23% compared to the unreinforced beams. The tensile stresses in the wooden fibres were reduced by 11.32% and 25.42% on average for the beams reinforced with two and three BFRP bars, respectively. On the other hand, the compressive stresses were reduced by 16.53% and 32.10% compared to the unreinforced beams. The usual failure mode saw the cracking of the wood fibres at the defects, while for some specimens, there were also signs of cracks in the epoxy adhesive bond; however, the crack propagation was, overall, significantly reduced. The numerical calculations also show a good correlation with the experimental results. The difference in the results between the experimental and numerical analysis of the reinforced and unreinforced full-sized beams ranged between 3.63% and 11.45%.

Improvement in alkali‐resistance of basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer by Ti3C2TX (MXene) modified matrix

AbstractFiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) is a kind of potential construction material due to its low density and strong mechanical properties, but its weak alkali stability impedes its widespread use. MXene nanosheets' two‐dimensional (2D) property makes them an attractive contender as a nanofiller for polymer‐based composites. Here, a basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer (BFRP) laminate with a matrix modified with MXene nanosheets was made using a vacuum‐assisted resin‐transfer molding (VaRTM) process. The flexural strength (530.1 MPa) and flexural modulus (26.7 GPa) of the M0.5/BFRP composite were superior to those of the BFRP laminate, increasing by 39.4% and 4.6%, respectively. According to DMA examination, the MXene/BFRP composite exhibited increased crosslinking density, which could improve stability as well as aid in energy dissipation. As anticipated, the BFRP composites enhanced with MXene nanosheets demonstrated exceptional long‐term stability in a hostile alkali environment. After being submerged in alkali solution at 40°C for 60 days, the M0.5/BFRP's flexural strength reached 398.0 MPa, exceeding that of pristine BFRP that had not been submerged in alkali solution. This study gives an insight into the effect of MXene Ti3C2TX nanosheets modified resin on the durability of BFRP in strong alkali environment.

Nanosilica Modification of Epoxy Matrix in Hybrid Basalt-Carbon FRP Bars-Impact on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties.

This article focuses on the effect of nano-silica on an epoxy matrix of hybrid basalt-carbon fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) composites. Usage of this type of bar continues to grow in the construction industry. The corrosion resistance, strength parameters, and easy transport to the construction site are significant parameters compared to traditional reinforcement. The research for new and more efficient solutions resulted in the intensive development of FRP composites. In this paper, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of two types of bars is proposed: hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (HFRP) and nanohybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (NHFRP). HFRP, in which 25% of the basalt fibers were replaced with carbon fibers, is more mechanically efficient than basalt fiber reinforced polymer composite (BFRP) alone. In HFRP, epoxy resin was additionally modified with a 3% SiO2 nanosilica admixture. Adding nanosilica to the polymer matrix can raise the glass transition temperature (Tg) and thus shift the limit beyond which the strength parameters of the composite deteriorate. SEM micrographs evaluate the surface of the modified resin and fiber-matrix interface. The analysis of the previously conducted tests-shear and tensile at elevated temperatures-correlate with the microstructural SEM observations with the obtained mechanical parameters. This is a summary of the impact of nanomodification on the microstructure-macrostructure of the FRP composite.

Influence of fiber areal density on mechanical behavior of basalt fiber/epoxy composites under varying loading rates: An experimental and statistical approach

AbstractThe stress–strain characteristics and failure behavior of composites are strain rate dependent and affected by the fiber areal density. To elucidate the combined influence of areal density and strain rate on the strength of basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer composites (BFRP), an experimental study was conducted on BFRP laminates of two different fiber areal densities, that is, 380 GSM and 200 GSM, having distinct stacking sequence under three different loading rates. Failure modes, failure strength, and Weibull parameters were used to characterize the experimental outcomes. The experiment was carried out to investigate the mechanical responses and associated failure modes at strain rates ranging from quasi‐static 0.1 mm/min to a high strain rate of 10 mm/min. It has been demonstrated that there is a substantial correlation between the fiber areal density, loading rate, and stacking order of BFRP laminates and the increase in maximum flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength. For an increase in the fiber areal density from 200 GSM to 380 GSM flexural strength is increased by 18%–30%, while ILSS strength is increased by 30%–52%. Based on the finding, the asymmetric type‐2 laminate exhibits better properties than the symmetric and asymmetric type‐1 laminates due to the presence of more (0°/90°) laminae at the tensile side of the laminate. Inferring the mechanical characteristics of composite materials and their relationship to strain rate from experimental data required a statistical technique. The statistical analysis and experimental findings demonstrate that the shape parameter and linear coefficient are not reliant on the strain rate.

Potential applications of basalt fibre composites in thermal shielding

This present study demonstrates the applicability of basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composite materials in thermal shielding. Basalt fibres are produced from natural, sustainable sources and obtain comparable mechanical performance to commercial glass fibres. In addition to their mechanical strength, BFRPs have excellent chemical and heat resistance. Basalt fibres tend to have a higher thermal stability than their competitor glass fibres. The heat resistance of basalt fibres derives from the volcanic origin of the raw material basalt gabbro. These favourable features make BFRP composites an attractive group of materials for application in several industries. To test the fire resistance of the materials, we produced mono and hybrid composite plates from different types of basalt reinforcement structures (milled fibres, chopped fibres and woven fabric) and epoxy resin. Surface treatment with silane coupling agents significantly improved the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of BFRPs by up to 70%. Three-point bending tests were performed to determine the flexural properties of the composite specimens, and their fire behaviour was evaluated with a horizontal burning test, and a novel jet fire test assisted with infrared thermal imaging. Higher fibre content in hybrid laminates decreased the linear burning rate by 8%, and the maximum surface temperature was approximately 80 °C lower after jet fire impingement compared to woven reinforcement structure.