Mechanical Performance of Basalt and Glass Woven Composites

Abstract

This study systematically evaluates the mechanical properties of glass and basalt high-performance fibers in woven fabric-reinforced composites with thermoplastic and thermoset matrices. Investigating responses to diverse quasi-static and dynamic impact loads, the research emphasizes the growing interest in composites as alternatives to conventional metals. Examining basalt and glass fibers within different matrices, the study optimizes composite materials by scrutinizing tensile strength, flexural strength, and edge-wise impact resistance. Combining literature review and experiments, the research highlights basalt fibers for their high tensile strength and environmental sustainability. Key findings show that, under quasi-static conditions, thermoset composites excel in in-plane load bearing, while thermoplastic composites exhibit exceptional edge-wise impact resistance. Additionally, the study notes the superior flexural properties of thermoplastic-based basalt composites over glass, with dynamics shifting under thermoset matrices. This underscores the profound influence of both reinforcement and matrix materials on composite mechanical properties. Basalt thermoplastic composite (TPB2DFRC) outperforms Glass-based counterpart (TPG2DFRC) in tensile properties, demonstrating superior elasticity and plasticity for enhanced deformation resistance. In flexural characteristics, TPB2DFRC excels, displaying higher modulus, strength, and flexibility compared to Glass-based thermoplastic composite (TPG2DFRC), highlighting the superior mechanical attributes of Basalt composites. The Izod impact properties showcase Basalt composites’ exceptional resistance, with higher impact strength and energy values, surpassing Glass counterparts. This underscores the potential of Basalt-based materials for applications requiring superior resilience to dynamic impact loading.