Basalt Fabrics Research Articles

Electrophoretic deposition of graphene on basalt fiber for composite applications

Abstract Basalt fiber (BF), because of having high strength-to-cost ratio, could be suitable for industrial applications replacing the carbon and glass fibers. However, the lack of surface functionality restricts its potential interfacial interactions with the reinforced matrix. Various surface modification approaches are used to tailor the surface properties of BFs such as coating nanomaterials and attaching chemical moieties. In this study, a successful deposition of graphene on basalt fabric was done using eco-friendly and simple electrophoretic deposition method. The confirmation of attached graphene oxide and graphene was done through the scanning electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectroscopy. Later, the effect of graphene coating on the thermal properties of BF was studied through thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Results show that the graphene was successfully coated on BF, and in the presence of graphene coating, the crystallization of BF delayed from 697 to 716°C because of the formation of a protective layer of graphene. Graphene-coated BF could be used further in fiber-reinforced composites to improve the interfacial interaction between the matrix and fiber.

Effects of anodizing surface treatment on the mechanical strength of aluminum alloy 5083 to fibre reinforced composites adhesive joints

In this study, the anodizing process based on the use of tartaric sulfuric acid solution (TSA) was carried out on metal substrate to evaluate for the first time its effect on the adhesion strength and corrosion resistance of aluminium alloy (i.e., AA5083) to fibre (i.e., basalt or glass) reinforced composite adhesive joints for nautical applications. Furthermore, some TSA anodized samples were soaked in a NaOH solution to investigate the influence of this post-immersion step on the joint performances. With the aim to improve the fibre-matrix adhesion in the composite substrate thus further increasing the overall mechanical response of the joint, glass and basalt fibres were treated with a silane coupling agent solution. The corrosion behaviour of the aluminium alloy was studied by electrochemical techniques. Samples morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscopy, while the interaction between aluminium alloy substrate and epoxy resin was studied through contact angle analysis and resin uptake tests. The effectiveness of the silane treatment was examined by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and quasi-static tensile tests carried out on dry glass and basalt fabrics. The mechanical response of the resulting joints was evaluated by means of quasi-static tensile tests in accordance to ASTM D3528 standard.

Evaluation of efficacy of basalt textile fabric on retrofitting of damaged reinforced concrete external beam–column joints

Beam–column joints are crucial elements in reinforced concrete framed structures. These are prone to failure during seismic action and may result in structural collapse. In this context, retrofitting of joint demands a deep attention. This paper presents the results of numerical investigation of retrofitting of an external beam–column joint by externally bonded basalt fabrics using ANSYS along with experimental findings. An external beam–column joint using strong column-weak beam concept was modeled by using appropriate elements available in ANSYS. Three specimens of the joint were experimentally investigated and tested under simulated static loading condition. These were considered as control specimens. Based on the results, the deformations corresponding to a load level equivalent to 60% of average ultimate load were simulated to a new model which was considered as a damaged specimen. By using another suitable element available in ANSYS, the retrofitting using basalt fabric was simulated in the new model in four different configurations and their behavior was analyzed. Two specimens each were experimentally studied. The numerical investigation results show that basalt textile reinforcement enhances the performance of the retrofitted specimens and the results arrived from ANSYS showed good agreement with experimental results.

Seawater Aged Basalt/Epoxy Composites: Improved Bearing Performance with Halloysite Nanotube Reinforcement

Although they enable for facile disassembly and inspection of critical assemblies, bolted joints are common damage initiation sites in laminated composite structures. Sudden failure can occur at these locations especially with the combination of corrosive environments. In order to well understand and characterize for marine applications, we aimed to research the impact of seawater aging and halloysite nanotube (HNT) nano reinforcements on the bearing performance of basalt-epoxy composites. For this, basalt fabrics were impregnated with HNT modified epoxy matrix via vacuum infusion and the resultant multi-scale laminates submerged in seawater up to 6 months after assembling via bolted joints. Single shear tensile tests of seawater aged joints were performed according to ASTM D5961 and the results compared with the HNTs reinforced hybrid laminates. HNTs nano reinforcements remarkably improved the bearing strength basalt/epoxy composite laminates with a 18% increase. In addition, seawater aging drastically impairs the bearing response of composite laminates with an almost 45% reduction in bearing strength after 6 months of exposure. Bearing fracture modes were also affected with the addition of HNTs and seawater aging, the resultant fracture surfaces were examined to reveal degradation mechanisms related to seawater aging and HNTs reinforcement after single shear tensile tests. The results can contribute to a better understanding of mechanical design parameters for bolted fiber reinforced polymer composites exposed to corrosive environments.

Preparation and characterization of basalt fabrics coated with zirconia obtained by sol-gel method for textile reinforced concrete

The poor alkali resistance of basalt fabric greatly affects the mechanical properties of textile reinforced concrete. In this study, dense zirconia coating obtained by sol-gel method was coated on the basalt fabrics surface as additional sizing to improve the alkali resistance of basalt fabrics. The morphology, wettability and phase composition of the fabric surfaces was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), static water contact angle (SWCA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectra (FI-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman. The tensile properties of various basalt fabrics immersed in alkaline solution for different time and the mechanical property of concrete composites were examined by universal material testing machine. Results showed that a protective membrane was formed on the surface of basalt fabrics to prevent the diffusion of hydroxide ions. The final strength retention ratio of BF-c-ZrO2 (Basalt fabric-coated-Zirconia) fabrics could maintain at 89.92% compared with that of pristine basalt fabrics, which reached below 40%. The compressive strength and flexural strength of BF-c-ZrO2 fabrics reinforced concrete increased by 10.15% and 19.0% compared with that of pristine basalt fabrics reinforced concrete. A theoretical model was proposed to predict the ultimate flexural bearing capacity of BF-c-ZrO2 fabric reinforced concrete based on the equivalent stress rectangle theory. The corresponding predicted value compared with experimental result indicated a good coincidence and a reasonable accuracy, which was less than 5% of their discrepancy.

Effect of plasma sizing on basalt fibers adhesion with wood-working resins

Basalt fabric with manufacturer-made silane sizing was additionally treated by propane-butane enriched atmospheric pressure nitrogen plasma for 15 and 30 s. The wetting improvement of treated fabric was demonstrated by faster soaking of K2CO3 solution. FTIR and XPS analyses confirmed the presence of new nitrogen-containing chemical groups. The impact on adhesion was investigated via a shear strength test of basalt fabric inlay between two beech wooden boards. A short 15 s long treatment led to almost 50% increase in melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF), polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) and epoxy resin bond strength. Phenol-resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) needed longer treatment to achieve a bond strength of 11.2 MPa. Only the polyurethane (PUR) showed reduced adhesion to plasma-treated fibers. However, from all tested resins, PUR exhibited the highest bond strength (15.7 MPa) with untreated basalt fabric. The SEM of tested specimens confirmed the changes in the mechanical adherence of resins to plasma treated fibers. Based on these results, PRF and PUR seem to be the most suitable polymers for basalt fibers reinforcement of structural wood-based materials.

Effect of Metallisation of Basalt Fabric on Its Surface Resistivity

The main aim of the research was to carry out the surface modification of basalt fabric in order to improve selected thermal properties of the material, i.e., resistance to contact and radiant heat, to apply it in a hot work environment. Attention was focused on checking whether the metal coating deposited does not cause too high conductivity, which is dangerous to human health. The process of magnetron sputtering with the use of chromium and aluminum of various thickness values was applied to basalt fabrics. Based on scanning electron microscope analysis, it was found that none of the aluminum or chromium coatings covered 100% of the basalt fabric surface. Results of the surface resistance analysis of four out of the six samples of basalt fabrics tested indicate that they belong to anti-static materials. The metallic coatings obtained can potentially be used to improve the thermal properties of basalt fabric mentioned.

Surface Modification of Basalt Fibres with ZnO Nanorods and Its Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA-Based Composites.

The composites based on basalt fibres and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) show promising applications in biomedical and automotive fields, but their mechanical performance is still largely hindered by poor interfacial properties. Zinc oxide nanorods have been successfully used to tune the PLA/basalt fibre interface by growing them on commercially available basalt fabrics. The hierarchical fibres significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of PLA-based composites, especially their flexural strength and stiffness. These values are 26% and 22% higher than those of unmodified basalt/PLA composites, and 24% and 34% higher than those of glass/PLA composites used as a baseline. The increase in tensile and flexural properties hinges on the mechanical interlocking action promoted by ZnO nanorods and on the creation of a compact transcrystallinity structure. A degradation of PLA matrix was detected but it was positively counteracted by the better interfacial stress transfer. This study offers a novel approach for modifying the fibre–matrix interface of biocomposites intended for high-performance applications.

Durability of natural hydraulic lime (NHL) based TRM composites through hot water immersion method

The textile reinforced mortar (TRM) composites are widely utilized for the seismic strengthening of masonry walls subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane actions. The probability of out-of-plane failure via snap-through mechanism is dominated by the flexural characteristics of relatively slender masonry wall. In this study, a rapid and early decisive procedure is proposed to direct the design of TRM composite through the bending tests combining accelerated ageing. The durability of natural hydraulic lime based TRM composites, which is unknown in the current literature, is addressed for glass, basalt and carbon textiles. The interaction between fiber mesh and matrix is discussed regarding fiber type, the influence of impregnation, flexural performance and failure modes. For total five types of fabrics, the flexural capacities are compared at ambient conditions and then through hot water ageing test (immersion at 50 °C during 10 days). The experimental findings indicate to the importance of the interaction between fiber and matrix about the durability and ductility of TRM composites.

Microwave absorption performance of hexagonal nano boron nitride doped basalt fabric-reinforced epoxy composites

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of doping element on the microwave absorption performance of hexagonal nano boron nitride (h-nBN)-reinforced basalt fabric (BF)/epoxy composites. A new type of hybrid composite that will be produced by the use of boron nitride as an additive that leads to increased radar absorption capability will be developed and a new material that can be used in aeronautical radar applications.Design/methodology/approachThis study is focused on the microwave absorption properties of h-nBN doped basalt fabric-reinforced epoxy composites. Basalt fabric (BF)/epoxy composites (pure composites) and the BF/h-nBN (1 Wt.% h-nBN doped composites) hybrid composites were fabricated by vacuum infusion method. Phase identification of the composites were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the 2θ scan range was from 10 to 60 with the scanning speed of 3°/min and surface morphologies of the composites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microwave properties of samples were investigated through transmission/reflection measurements in Agilent brand 2-Port PNA-L Network Analyzer in the frequency range of 3–18 GHz. The prepared sample is positioned between two horn antennas with and without metal plate.FindingsExperimental results show that h-nBN doped composite was synthesized successfully and the produced hexagonal nano boron nitride-added fiber laminated composite material has good absorption behavior when they are used with metallic sheets and good for isolation applications at many points in the 3–18 GHz band.Originality/valueThis paper will contribute to the literature on the use of basalt fabric, which are new types of fibers, and hexagonal nano boron nitride and the effects of boron nitride on radar absorption properties of composite material. It presents detail characterization of each composite by using XRD and scanning electron microscopy.

ОПТИМАЛЬНОЕ ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ КОРПУСА БЕСПИЛОТНОГО ЛЕТАТЕЛЬНОГО АППАРАТА

Designing of a drone frame is presented in this paper. The main goal is to develop the optimal drone frame geometry. The optimization criterion represents mass minimization along with ensuring the required stiffness. Another intention is to use cheap materials and simple manufacturing technologies. The design process consists of three steps. The first step is engineering of a composite material, which is a three-layer sandwich panel. A series of three-point bending experiments are carried out for material samples. The optimality criterion takes into account both physical and economic features of the material. In the final scheme the outer layers are made of carbon and basalt fabrics, which are impregnated with resin, and a specific non-woven material is used as filler. The second step is the initial design. Dimensions are specified for design purposes. The third step is the optimization process. The finite element model of the frame is developed. The drone weight and the lift forces serve as applied loads. The optimization is implemented by removing material from unloaded areas of the structure. The Nelder–Mead (simplex) method with varying geometric parameters of the structure is used. As a result of the optimization process, the mass of the initial structure is reduced by 25.6 percent.

Experimental Study on the Durability of Polymer-Impregnated Basalt Textile Applied as Concrete Reinforcement

Experimental Study on the Durability of Polymer-Impregnated Basalt Textile Applied as Concrete Reinforcement

Effect of stacking sequence on the mechanical properties of pseudo-ductile thin-ply unidirectional carbon-basalt fibers/epoxy composites

In this study, the flexural and impact properties of hybrid composites including the thin-ply unidirectional (UD) carbon fibers and basalt fabrics with different stacking sequences were investigated. Hybrid composites were fabricated by 2 layers of thin-ply UD carbon fibers and 6 layers of basalt fabrics in which the position of thin-ply UD carbon fibers was changed from the center to the outermost layers for different samples. Results indicated that by embedding the thin-ply UD carbon fibers in the laminates, both flexural and impact properties of the samples were considerably improved. The highest flexural strength (451 MPa) and modulus (37 GPa) values were achieved when the thin-ply UD carbon fibers were placed at the outermost layers; these values were respectively 24% and 44% higher than those of the sample without these fibers. However, results indicated that by placing the thin-ply UD carbon fibers at the center of samples, the failure behavior of samples was changed from catastrophic failure to progressive; and a pseudo-ductile behavior was observed in the mentioned samples. The highest pseudo-ductile strain value of 0.0054 was obtained by placing the thin-ply UD carbon fibers at the center of samples. Similar to the trend pseudo-ductility of samples, the flexural strain of samples improved by nearing the thin-ply UD carbon fibers to the center of samples. Similar to the flexural strain of samples, the results of Charpy impact tests indicated that by nearing the thin-ply UD carbon fibers to the outermost layers, the absorbed energy values decreased.

Flexural failure of fabric reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM) plates under punctual loads: Experimental test, analytical approach and numerical simulation

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FCRMs) are composites that produce lighter and more durable strengthening solutions. In this study, carbon and basalt fabrics were used to manufactured FRCM plate specimens. These plates were subjected to a centered punctual load with different punch diameters. Flexural failure mode was observed. Experimental tests showed that carbon and basalt fabrics improved notably the load capacity and the stiffness of mortar plates compared to unreinforced ones. Moreover, failure in the reinforced plates was progressive, preventing the sudden brittle failure of the unreinforced ones. Analytical and numerical models were adjusted and validated from experimental results, and both have proved to be effective calculation tools. What is more, numerical model allowed to determine a sliding tensile stress for the carbon fabric used in this study.

Analyses on impact behaviour and reinforcement mechanism of basalt fiber and textile reinforced cement-based composite materials

The research work is conducted to investigate the influence on the dynamic mechanical properties of concrete with different volume content of basalt fibers and the different layers number of basalt fabrics, as well as the hybrid effect between fibers and fabrics. The relationships among the impact force, impact time, displacement of the specimens and their failure patterns were analyzed. The results showed that the basalt fabric could significantly improve the brittleness and the impact resistance of concrete. Moreover, the impact force and energy absorption of the specimens increased continuously with the increase of impact energy. The fabrics could play the vital roles in transmitting stress, absorbing energy and bearing load. Basalt fiber could enhance the impact resistance of concrete but it was not obvious. Finally, the different reinforcement mechanisms of basalt fiber and basalt fabric under impact load were proposed.

Effects of Different Test Setups on the Experimental Tensile Behaviour of Basalt Fibre Bidirectional Grids for FRCM Composites

Fibre-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have been effectively used during the last ten years for the strengthening of existing concrete and masonry structures. These composite materials are made of medium- and high-strength fibre meshes embedded in inorganic matrices. Synthetic fibres are the ones that are currently the most used; however, natural fibres, such as basalt fibres, have recently been receiving growing attention. This work presents an extensive experimental study on the mechanical characterisation of a primed basalt fibre bidirectional grid. Fifty monotonic tensile tests on basalt grid strips were performed by varying different parameters, such as the dimension of the specimens, the clamping system, the measurement system and the test rate. Some of the tests were carried out using a video-extensometer to measure each specimen’s strain. The aim of the study was to find the most suitable setup for the tensile characterisation of basalt textiles, in particular, to prevent slippage of the samples at the gripping area and fully exploit the tensile capacity of the grid.

Hybrid Effects of Basalt and Kevlar Fibers on Low-velocity Impact Behavior of Epoxy-based Composites

This work aimed at investigating the low-velocity impact (LVI) behavior of hybrid epoxy-based laminates reinforced with woven Kevlar and Basalt fabrics. Six types of stacking sequences including sandwich hybrid, intercalated hybrid and not hybrid were employed for fabricating the specimens. Herein, the main focus of the study was to investigate the effect of Kevlar-Basalt hybridization on the low-velocity impact behavior of specimens. The impact tests were conducted using a drop-weight impact device at different energy levels of 30, 40, and 60 J. The impact properties of laminates were compared in terms of peak force, energy absorption and damaged area. Moreover, the low-velocity impact properties of specimens were simulated using ABAQUS finite element software and the results were compared with the experimental data. From the obtained results, the hybrid composite with intercalated configuration exhibited superior impact resistance.

Effects of functionalized fumed-silica on the three-point bending and sliding wear properties of woven basalt fabric-epoxy composites

In this work, the effects of fumed-silica functionalization and functionalized fumed-silica content on the three-point bending and sliding wear properties of woven basalt fabric/epoxy composites were investigated. The functionalized fumed-silica particles were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The multiscale composites were prepared by impregnating basalt fabrics into epoxy resin incorporated with various functionalized fumed-silica contents (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt%). The results of the 3-point bending test showed that a maximum improvement of 50% was gained with the addition of 1 wt% functionalized fumed-silica. Besides, the wear rate and friction coefficient of the basalt fiber/epoxy composite were decreased by 90% and 36%, respectively when 3 wt% functionalized fumed-silica was incorporated. It was also found that the fumed-silica after surface-functionalization improved the flexural properties and wear resistance of basalt fiber/epoxy composite more remarkably than the un-treated fumed-silica. Scanning electron microscope was also utilized to evaluate the fracture and wear mechanisms of the specimens.

Flexural impact response and energy absorption characteristics of textile reinforced mortar

The present paper investigates the characteristics of textile reinforced mortar (TRM) beams under flexural impact. The key test parameters focuses on determining the effect of the two types of textile material namely glass and basalt, number of textile layers and positioning of textile layers. TRM beams were experimentally evaluated under different energy levels with respect to the load specification. Effect of single and repeated impact was examined on standard TRM specimens. The results showed that in the case of glass and basalt textile, the optimum number of textile layers is different in order to achieve maximum impact resistance. The peak energy level for TRM with glass textiles is found to be higher than that of TRM with basalt textiles for optimal reinforcement. The energy absorption for glass TRM for single impact is higher than basalt TRM and the same is substantially reduced when subjected to repeated impact compared to basalt TRM. The crack pattern and failure mode are found to be more dependent on the number of textile layers.

The Effect of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Powder Addition on the Thermomechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Basalt Fiber.

The aim of the article was to determine the effect of the poly(vinyl chloride) additive (PVC) on the thermomechanical and fire properties of epoxy composites reinforced with basalt fabric. Ten-layered composites with 2.5, 5 and 10 wt.% of PVC powder were fabricated using hand lay-up. The following features were evaluated for composites: structure (by scanning electron microscopy, SEM), thermomechanical properties (by dynamical thermomechanical analysis, DMTA), mechanical properties (in bending, tensile and interlaminar shear strength tests), hardness (using the Barcol method), thermal stability (by thermogravimetry, TGA) and fire behavior (using a cone calorimeter). It was found that the introduction of micron PVC powder into the epoxy matrix improved the thermomechanical properties of composites, such as storage module, and mechanical properties, such as flexural strength and modulus, as well as hardness.