Enhanced interfacial and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced poly(aryl ether nitrile ketone) composites by amino-silane coupling agents

Analysis of Water-Based Polyurethane Properties in the Ballistic Behavior of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Composites

The ballistic performance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) is influenced by the adhesive's mechanical properties, such as stiffness, toughness, and energy dissipation. However, the specific contributions of these properties remain unclear. This study explores how varying the hard segment (HS) content in water-based polyurethane (WPU) impacts the thermal, mechanical, and ballistic performance of FRPCs. By increasing HS content, the storage modulus and tensile strength of WPU improved, while elongation at break decreased, transitioning the adhesive from soft and ductile to rigid and brittle. Quasi-static tests, ballistic experiments, and SEM analysis were conducted on UHMWPE fiber-reinforced WPU-HS% composites. Results reveal that adhesives with high hardness and modulus hinder fiber deformation, reducing energy dissipation and causing severe delamination, which diminishes ballistic performance. Conversely, soft and ductile adhesives allow deformation alongside fibers during bullet impact, suppress delamination, and absorb more kinetic energy while transferring load. Among the tested formulations, WPU with 45% HS content exhibited the best balance of mechanical properties, achieving the most significant improvement in ballistic performance by enhancing energy absorption and minimizing damage. This study establishes a clear relationship between WPU properties and composite protective behavior, providing insights for designing high-performance ballistic materials.

Research Progress on the Surface Modification of Basalt Fibers and Composites: A Review

Fiber-reinforced resin composites (FRRCs) are widely used in several fields such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and power. Basalt fiber (BF) has been increasingly used to replace artificial fibers such as glass fiber and carbon fiber in the production of BF-reinforced resin matrix composites (BFRRCs). This preference stems from its superior properties, including high temperature resistance, chemical stability, ease of manufacturing, cost-effectiveness, non-toxicity, and its natural, environmentally friendly characteristics. However, the chemical inertness of BF endows it with poor compatibility, adhesion, and dispersion in a resin matrix, leading to poor adhesion and a weak BF-resin interface. The interfacial bonding strength between BF and resin is an important parameter that determines the service performance of BFRRC. Therefore, the interfacial bonding strength between them can be improved through fiber modification, resin-matrix modification, mixed enhancers, etc., which consequently upgrade the mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, and durability of BFRRC. In this review, first, the production process and properties of BFs are presented. Second, the mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, and durability of BFRRC are introduced. Third, the modification effect of the non-destructive surface-modification technology of BF on BFRRC is presented herein. Finally, based on the current research status, the future research direction of BFRRC is proposed, including the development of high-performance composite materials, green manufacturing processes, and intelligent applications.

Highly Enhancing the Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber/Poly(phthalazinone ether nitrile ketone) Composite by Thermoplastic Sizing Agents with Different Structures

The interfacial modification of basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites is an essential research field and many techniques have been developed to improve the adhesion between basalt fiber (BF) and the matrix. However, most studies were based on the matrixes of general plastics and epoxy resins. In this work, five different chain structures of thermoplastic sizing agents were used to improve the interfacial properties of unidirectional BF-reinforced soluble and high-temperature-resistant poly(phthalazinone ether nitrile ketone) (BF/PPENK) composites. DMA results showed that the poly(ether nitrile) (PEN)-sized BF/PPENK (BF-PEN/PPENK) composite exhibited the optimal interfacial performance, with a storage modulus (E′) and glass transition temperature (T_g) up to 50 GPa and 288 °C, respectively. Moreover, the tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, and interlaminar shear strength of the BF-PEN/PPENK composite reached 778 MPa, 600 MPa, 1115 MPa and 57 MPa, respectively, and increased by 42%, 49%, 20% and 30% compared with the desized BF/PPENK composite. This study provides some suggestions for the design of sizing agents to modify the interface of BF and high-performance thermoplastic resin.

Interfacial reinforced carbon fiber composites inspired by biological interlocking structure

Weak interfacial activity and poor wettability between fiber and matrix are known to be the two main factors that restrict the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs). Herein, inspired by high strength and toughness characteristics of wing feathers of Black Kite (Milvus migrans), natural hook-groove microstructure system (HGMS) and underlying mechanical interlocking mechanism were carefully investigated. Biomimetic HGMS based on dopamine-functionalized carbon fibers and ZnO nanorods were constructed successfully by a two-step modification method to enhance interfacial adhesion. Further, CFRCs featured with biomimetic HGMS were prepared by a vacuum-assisted contact molding method. Experimental results confirmed that flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength of the bioinspired CFRCs were effectively improved by 40.02 and 101.63%, respectively. The proposed bioinspired design strategy was proved to be flexible and effective and it was anticipated to provide a promising design approach and facile fabrication method for desirable CFRCs with excellent mechanical properties.

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Natural HGMS and mechanical interlocking mechanism were carefully investigated

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Biomimetic HGMS based on functionalized CFs and ZnO NRs was constructed

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Mechanical performance of the bioinspired CFRCs was enhanced significantly

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The interface adhesion between the CFs and EP was proved to be enhanced