Besides good mechanical properties, basalt has high chemo- and thermal stability [88], good thermal, electrical and sound insulating properties [188]. The thermal insulating ability of basalt is three times that of asbestos [189, 190], and due to such good insulating property basalt is used in fire protection [188-190]. Basalt has electrical insulating properties 10 times better than glass [189, 190]. Secondly, basalt has much better chemical resistance than glass fiber, especially in strong alkalis. Basalt composite pipes can transport corrosive liquids and gases [183, 184, 188-190]. Polymer concretes based on polybutadiene matrix, with quartz sand and fly ash as filler, and basalt chipping as coarse aggregate, have very high resistance to acids and alkali, excellent toughness and adhesion to metal reinforcements, low water absorption and remarkable compressive strength (80~90 MPa) [191]. In addition, basalt can be used in a wider temperature range, -260/-200 °C to about 650/800 °C compared to Eglass,

-60 to 450/460 °C [183, 188-190, 192]. And replacement of glass fiber with basalt fiber can reduce the risk of environment pollution like high-toxic metals and oxides, which are produced in glass fiber production [9]. Furthermore, basalt fiber has higher stiffness and strength than glass fiber, as claimed by some people and shown in Table 1.2 below [193,194].

Due to the properties basalt has, its typical applications include [198]: production of textile fibers, floor tiles, acid-resistant equipment for heavy industrial use, rockwool, friction materials such as brake pads and linings, high-temperature insulation, and fire protection.

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Dr. Richard Parnas, PI, Dr. Montgomery Shaw, Co-PI, Qiang Liu, Student Assistant

Prepared for The New England Transportation Consortium August, 2007

NETCR63 Project No. 03-7

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites