31-07-2012, 03:32 PM
Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
[attachment=29741]
Introduction and Literature Review
. Research Objectives and Methodology
The use of basalt fibers was investigated in low cost composites for civil infrastructure
applications requiring excellent mechanical properties and long lifetimes. Basalt fibers were
thought to have great potential as reinforcement in both polymer materials and in concrete.
However, this research focused on the use of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites.
A range of basic mechanical tests evaluated polymer composites reinforced with basalt
fibers. Tests were also done with glass-reinforced composites using the same polymer as the
basalt specimens to permit direct comparison between the two reinforcing materials.
Subsequent tests examined the effects of environmental exposure on the composite material
behavior. An appendix provides background on composite materials, their mechanical
properties, and the methods used to produce them. Reference numbers begin in the appendix.
Overview of Work on Basalt Fibers
Basalt is the most common rock found in the earth crust. Russia has unlimited basalt reserves
[88], and only the 30 active quarries have roughly 197 million m3. In the United States [82],
Washington, Oregon and Idaho have thousands of square miles covered with basalt lava. The
Columbia Basalt Plateau, located in this region, has about 100,000 square miles covered with
basalt. Basalt color is from brown to dull green depending on the ferrous content. Basalt
fibers are made from basalt rock by melting the rock at 1300-1700 °C and spinning it [183,
184]. Due to fiber production problems of gradual crystallization of some parts and nonhomogeneous
melting, continuous basalt fiber was rarely used until the technology of
continuous spinning recently overcame these problems [185]. The first basalt plants were
built in USSR in late 1980’s in Sudogda, Ukraine and Georgia. A patent about the basalt
fiber production was registered in 1991[186].
Composite Material Preparation
Materials Used and Composite Preparations
Basalt fabric was the same as used in the permeability tests: basalt twill 3/1 fabric from
Albarrie Company in Canada. Two glass fabrics were chosen for comparison to the basalt
fabric. The first glass fabric chosen, BGF 443, was a 1×3 RH woven twill produced by BGF
Company in United States [193]. The basalt and BGF 443 glass fabrics had the same weave
pattern and yarn balance between warp and weft. However, the thickness and twist of the
basalt and glass yarns were different, leading to significant differences in micro-structural
details such as yarn waviness. Another glass fabric, BGF 1527, was also chosen, which has
the same filament diameter and yarn thickness as basalt fabric. The BGF 1527 is a plainwoven
fabric, providing information on the effects of reinforcement weave pattern on
composite properties. Table 2.1 summarizes the three kinds of fabric, and Figure 2.1 shows
the images of them.
[attachment=29741]
Introduction and Literature Review
. Research Objectives and Methodology
The use of basalt fibers was investigated in low cost composites for civil infrastructure
applications requiring excellent mechanical properties and long lifetimes. Basalt fibers were
thought to have great potential as reinforcement in both polymer materials and in concrete.
However, this research focused on the use of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites.
A range of basic mechanical tests evaluated polymer composites reinforced with basalt
fibers. Tests were also done with glass-reinforced composites using the same polymer as the
basalt specimens to permit direct comparison between the two reinforcing materials.
Subsequent tests examined the effects of environmental exposure on the composite material
behavior. An appendix provides background on composite materials, their mechanical
properties, and the methods used to produce them. Reference numbers begin in the appendix.
Overview of Work on Basalt Fibers
Basalt is the most common rock found in the earth crust. Russia has unlimited basalt reserves
[88], and only the 30 active quarries have roughly 197 million m3. In the United States [82],
Washington, Oregon and Idaho have thousands of square miles covered with basalt lava. The
Columbia Basalt Plateau, located in this region, has about 100,000 square miles covered with
basalt. Basalt color is from brown to dull green depending on the ferrous content. Basalt
fibers are made from basalt rock by melting the rock at 1300-1700 °C and spinning it [183,
184]. Due to fiber production problems of gradual crystallization of some parts and nonhomogeneous
melting, continuous basalt fiber was rarely used until the technology of
continuous spinning recently overcame these problems [185]. The first basalt plants were
built in USSR in late 1980’s in Sudogda, Ukraine and Georgia. A patent about the basalt
fiber production was registered in 1991[186].
Composite Material Preparation
Materials Used and Composite Preparations
Basalt fabric was the same as used in the permeability tests: basalt twill 3/1 fabric from
Albarrie Company in Canada. Two glass fabrics were chosen for comparison to the basalt
fabric. The first glass fabric chosen, BGF 443, was a 1×3 RH woven twill produced by BGF
Company in United States [193]. The basalt and BGF 443 glass fabrics had the same weave
pattern and yarn balance between warp and weft. However, the thickness and twist of the
basalt and glass yarns were different, leading to significant differences in micro-structural
details such as yarn waviness. Another glass fabric, BGF 1527, was also chosen, which has
the same filament diameter and yarn thickness as basalt fabric. The BGF 1527 is a plainwoven
fabric, providing information on the effects of reinforcement weave pattern on
composite properties. Table 2.1 summarizes the three kinds of fabric, and Figure 2.1 shows
the images of them.