Mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced composites manufactured with different vacuum assisted impregnation techniques

Published Date
Composites Part B: Engineering
1 November 2016, Vol.104:35–43, doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.08.021

• Author 

• T. Scalici ^a
• G. Pitarresi ^b,,
• D. Badagliacco ^a
• V. Fiore ^a
• A. Valenza ^a

• aUniversità degli Studi di Palermo, DICAM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
• bUniversità degli Studi di Palermo, DICGIM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy

Received 26 May 2016. Revised 18 July 2016. Accepted 17 August 2016. Available online 20 August 2016. 

Abstract

This work describes an experimental mechanical characterisation campaign on composites made out of a quasi-unidirectional basalt fabric. In order to evaluate the ability of commercial basalt fabrics and their composites to meet the potentials of basalt fibers, the work has used raw materials from commercial catalogs with no further modification. Two common manufacturing techniques for medium performance composites have been adopted: vacuum assisted resin infusion, and hand-impregnated vacuum bagging. Two panels, one for each technique, have been fabricated, able to provide a sufficient number of samples for a comprehensive stiffness and strength characterization through Tensile, Flexural, In-Plane Shear, Short Beam Shear, Double Cantilever Beam and End-Notched Flexural tests. Results revealed a significant dependence of the mechanical properties on the manufacturing processes, due to their different ability to fully impregnate the dry fabric assembly, and on the quality of fiber/matrix adhesion. In general, hand-impregnation followed by vacuum bag curing was able to guarantee a better impregnation, which in particular yielded superior Interlaminar Shear Strength and Interlaminar Fracture Toughness performances.

Keywords

Mechanical properties

Fracture toughness

Mechanical testing

Lay-up (manual/automated)

Basalt fibers

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• ∗ 
  Corresponding author.

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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