Dual Modification of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Composites with Ethyl Cellulose and Poly(dimethylsiloxane) as Sustainable Construction Materials

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have emerged as promising next-generation materials for advanced structures in civil engineering. Notwithstanding the recent progress, the unsatisfactory mechanical properties and problematic long-term stability in the alkali environment remain daunting challenges toward their large-scale practicability. In this study, we address such limitations by a dual modification method, in which first ethyl cellulose (EC) is incorporated into the matrix and then the FRP composite is dipped in a dilute poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) solution. The FRP composite exhibited enhanced flexural strength by 23.4% and increased flexural modulus by 23.5% compared to those of the pristine basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP). Such an eminent performance is mainly attributed to the bridging effect of EC. As confirmed by the DMA characterization, the incorporation of EC greatly increased the cross-linking density and improved the thermal stability. Additionally, the FRP composite had a stable performance in the alkali environment tests. Tuning the amount of ethyl cellulose was found to have a profound effect on the mechanical performance and aging behavior in the alkali solution. This study establishes a practical approach to fabricating FRP composites with long-term stability in alkali environments.

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

“…[1][2][3][4] Due to its exceptional mechanical and ecologically favorable qualities, basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) stands out among the current FRP contenders. [4][5][6][7] However, most current studies on FRP composites pay attention to mechanical, thermal, and/or electrical performance, while the long-term durability of FRP materials in corrosive environments is not well studied. Additionally, the reinforcement materials in the concrete usually suffer from serious alkali corrosion, which results in poor interface and decreased mechanical performance.…”

Thermal and mechanical characterization of polypropylene/basalt fiber/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber hybrid composite

“…Basalt fibers were also reinforced with some of the other polymers like nylon 6 [10], Nylon 6/High density polyethylene [7], Poly lactic acid [2,14], cellulose acetate [1] and epoxy [25]. Qian et al [26] studied the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced ethyl cellulose and poly(dimethyl siloxane) Composites as workable in civil construction applications. The mechanical characteristics of the composite were observed to improve.…”