Effect of external basalt layers on durability behaviour of flax reinforced composites

Abstract Aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of external layers of basalt-mat on the durability behaviour of flax reinforced epoxy composites. To this scope, long-term ageing tests were performed on two different laminates in critical environmental conditions. The first laminate, named Flax, was constituted by stacking ten layers of bidirectional flax fabrics. The second one, named Flax–Basalt, was produced by replacing two external flax layers with two layers of basalt mat for each side of the laminate. Both laminates were exposed to salt-fog environmental conditions, according to ASTM B 117 standard, for 60 days. Five samples per laminate were removed from salt-fog spray chamber and mechanically tested. In particular, quasi-static flexural tests and Charpy impact tests were performed according to ASTM D 790 and ISO 179 standards, respectively. The fracture surfaces of both laminates were evaluated by using an optical 3D microscope. Moreover, five samples per laminate were removed periodically and weighed to evaluate the water absorption. The experimental results showed that the hybridization with basalt fibres can be considered as a practical approach for enhancing the durability of natural fibre composites under salt-fog environment conditions.

[1]  Montgomery T. Shaw,et al.  Investigation of basalt fiber composite aging behavior for applications in transportation , 2006 .

[2]  V. Fiore,et al.  Characterization of a new natural fiber from Arundo donax L. as potential reinforcement of polymer composites. , 2014, Carbohydrate polymers.

[3]  G. Alaimo,et al.  The durability of basalt fibres reinforced polymer (BFRP) panels for cladding , 2016 .

[4]  Zhongyi Zhang,et al.  Effects of water immersion ageing on the mechanical properties of flax and jute fibre biocomposites evaluated by nanoindentation and flexural testing , 2014 .

[5]  C. Leone,et al.  Mechanical characterisation of basalt fibre reinforced plastic , 2011 .

[6]  Zhishen Wu,et al.  Durability of basalt fibers and composites in corrosive environments , 2015 .

[7]  Nawawi Chouw,et al.  Lateral crushing of empty and polyurethane-foam filled natural flax fabric reinforced epoxy composite tubes , 2014 .

[8]  D. Scida,et al.  Influence of water ageing on mechanical properties and damage events of two reinforced composite materials: Flax–fibres and glass–fibres , 2011 .

[9]  Libo Yan,et al.  Flax fibre and its composites – A review , 2014 .

[10]  A. Bismarck,et al.  Wetting behavior of flax fibers as reinforcement for polypropylene. , 2003, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[11]  Andrea Dorigato,et al.  Fatigue resistance of basalt fibers-reinforced laminates , 2012 .

[12]  C. Anand,et al.  Mechanical and abrasive wear behavior of glass and basalt fabric-reinforced epoxy composites , 2013 .

[13]  H. Biscaia,et al.  On estimates of durability of FRP based on accelerated tests , 2014 .

[14]  C. Santulli,et al.  Mechanical characterisation of hybrid composite laminates based on basalt fibres in combination with flax, hemp and glass fibres manufactured by vacuum infusion , 2013 .

[15]  V. Fiore,et al.  A review on basalt fibre and its composites , 2015 .

[16]  J. Davalos,et al.  Long-term durability prediction models for GFRP bars in concrete environment , 2012 .

[17]  R. Wool,et al.  Mechanical properties of glass/flax hybrid composites based on a novel modified soybean oil matrix material , 2005 .

[18]  C. Baley,et al.  In-situ evaluation of flax fibre degradation during water ageing , 2015 .

[19]  V. Fiore,et al.  Mechanical behavior of carbon/flax hybrid composites for structural applications , 2012 .

[20]  F. Tamás.  New bookApplications of Differential Thermal Analysis in Cement Chemistry: V. S. Ramachandran. 1969. Chemical Publishing Company, Inc., New York. 308 pp. 122 figures. 33 tables. $15. , 1971 .

[21]  Nawawi Chouw,et al.  Natural FRP tube confined fibre reinforced concrete under pure axial compression: A comparison with glass/carbon FRP , 2014 .

[22]  D. Chen,et al.  Influence of Basalt Fiber on Performance of Cement Mortar , 2010 .

[23]  E. Collings,et al.  On the static and dynamic properties of flax and Cordenka epoxy composites , 2013 .

[24]  V. Fiore,et al.  Effect of areal weight and chemical treatment on the mechanical properties of bidirectional flax fabrics reinforced composites , 2010 .

[25]  Jinzhen Cao,et al.  Effects of UV weathering on surface properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with wood flour, lignin, and cellulose , 2014 .

[26]  M. Shokrieh,et al.  Stress Corrosion Cracking of Basalt/Epoxy Composites under Bending Loading , 2010 .

[27]  C. Thaumaturgo,et al.  Fracture toughness of geopolymeric concretes reinforced with basalt fibers , 2005 .

[28]  Libo Yan,et al.  Effect of triggering and polyurethane foam-filler on axial crushing of natural flax/epoxy composite tubes , 2014 .

[29]  Libo Yan,et al.  Effect of column parameters on flax FRP confined coir fibre reinforced concrete , 2014 .

[30]  Jose Maria Kenny,et al.  Impact and post-impact damage characterisation of hybrid composite laminates based on basalt fibres in combination with flax, hemp and glass fibres manufactured by vacuum infusion , 2015 .

[31]  Zhongyi Zhang,et al.  Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites , 2007 .

[32]  Vincenzo Fiore,et al.  On the mechanical behavior of BFRP to aluminum AA6086 mixed joints , 2013 .

[33]  P. Davies,et al.  PLLA/Flax Mat/Balsa Bio-Sandwich Manufacture and Mechanical Properties , 2011 .

[34]  R. Olivito,et al.  Development of durable cementitious composites using sisal and flax fabrics for reinforcement of masonry structures , 2014 .

[35]  B. Proctor,et al.  The use of accelerated ageing procedures to predict the long term strength of GRC composites , 1981 .

[36]  V. Fiore,et al.  Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.) fibres as potential reinforcement of composite structures , 2011 .

[37]  Libo Yan,et al.  Effect of alkali treatment on vibration characteristics and mechanical properties of natural fabric reinforced composites , 2012 .

[38]  A. Célino,et al.  Qualitative and quantitative assessment of water sorption in natural fibres using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. , 2014, Carbohydrate polymers.

[39]  Nawawi Chouw,et al.  Effect of UV and water spraying on the mechanical properties of flax fabric reinforced polymer composites used for civil engineering applications , 2015 .

[40]  B. F. Yousif,et al.  A review on the degradability of polymeric composites based on natural fibres , 2013 .

[41]  Julio F. Davalos,et al.  Durability Prediction for GFRP Reinforcing Bars using Short-Term Data of Accelerated Aging Tests , 2006 .

[42]  G. Campione,et al.  Behavior in compression of concrete cylinders externally wrappedwith basalt fibers , 2015 .

[43]  Kin Liao,et al.  Effects of environmental aging on the mechanical properties of bamboo–glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix hybrid composites , 2002 .

[44]  Vincenzo Fiore,et al.  Glass–basalt/epoxy hybrid composites for marine applications , 2011 .

[45]  P. Wambua,et al.  Natural fibres: can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics? , 2001 .

[46]  G. Cicala,et al.  Properties and performances of various hybrid glass/natural fibre composites for curved pipes , 2009 .

[47]  Gu Huang,et al.  Tensile Property of the Flax/Polyester Composites after Water Treatment , 2011 .

[48]  Nawawi Chouw,et al.  Microstructure, flexural properties and durability of coir fibre reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with flax FRP composites , 2015 .

[49]  Yan Li,et al.  Tensile and interfacial properties of unidirectional flax/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites , 2013 .

[50]  Zhongyi Zhang,et al.  Development of flax/carbon fibre hybrid composites for enhanced properties. , 2013, Carbohydrate polymers.

[51]  R. Olivito,et al.  Effects of fabric parameters on the tensile behaviour of sustainable cementitious composites , 2015 .

[52]  K. Fan,et al.  Experimental study on the mechanical properties and microstructure of chopped basalt fibre reinforced concrete , 2014 .