The fibre is made from basalt stone by pulling fibres from the melt. It is similar to carbon fibre and fibreglass, having better physicomechanical properties than fibreglass, but being significantly cheaper than carbon fibre. It is used as a fireproof textile in the aerospace and automotive industries and can also be used as a composite to produce products such as camera tripods.
Source of Basalt fibre
Basalt is a type of igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It is the most common rock in the Earth’s crust. Basalt rock characteristics vary from the source of lava, cooling rate, and historical exposure to the elements. High quality fibres are made from basalt deposits with uniform chemical makeup.
The production of basalt and glass fibres are similar. Crushed basalt rock is the only raw material required for manufacturing the fibre. It is a continuous fibre produced through igneous basalt rock melt drawing at about 2,700° F (1,500° C).
Though the temperature required to produce fibres from basalt is higher than glass, it is reported by some researchers that production of fibres made from basalt requires less energy by due to the uniformity of its heating.
Properties of Basalt Fibre
- Low level of micro cracks (up to 90%)
- Increased flexural strength (up to 35%)
- Increased concrete fatigue strength and resistance (> 400%)
- Increased frost resistance (up to 35%)
- Increased water tightness (up to 50%)
- Increased surface endurance of concrete (up to 70%)
- Decreased slivering of corners and edges (up to 90%)
- Provision of tree-dimensional reinforcement
- Lightness, high mechanical strength, corrosion and chemical resistance to alkali and other aggressive Environments
- High friction, frost, heat, and moisture resistance
- Sound absorption
- Ability to filtrate aggressive substances
- Unique chemical resistance
- Resistance to salty sea water
- Resistance to ultraviolet radiation
- Dielectric character
- Eco-friendliness
Applications of Basalt Fibre
- Construction - disperse concrete, mortar, dry mixes and structural products reinforcement for improving concretes and mortar crack resistance , waterproofing, easy concrete pouring, tensile strength at bending and compression, abrasion, steel rebar corrosion resistance in basalt reinforced concretes and as a result - increased durability of concrete structures.
- Mechanical Engineering - composite materials, structural materials, constructions in conditions of high vibration, alternating loads, acoustic insulation, equipment thermal insulation, heat lines, disc reinforcement cutting grids. Filters for cleaning of exhaust gases from dust and industrial wastewater.
- Automotive industry - composite materials, insulation materials for automotive exhaust systems, panels, insulating spacers, screens, reinforcing materials for brake pads and clutch plates, engineering plastics, non-combustible composites, cord for tires, chopped fibres for reinforcement of plastics and other materials. The materials for the fuel tanks manufacturing, cylinders for LPG and compressed natural gas.
- Shipbuilding - composite materials resistant to sea water, thermal and sound insulation of equipment, construction materials, small shipbuilding - construction of hulls and superstructures.
- Rail-car manufacturing - composite structural materials and products, thermal and sound insulation of rail-cars, reinforcement of structural plastics, non-combustible composite materials, electrical insulating materials.
- Aeronautics - composite materials and articles for cabins, thermal and sound insulation of canvases, covered with waterproofing fabric for heat and sound insulation of engine and fuselage, exhaust sound insulation of gas-dynamic channels.
- Energy - insulation of thermal equipment in steam boilers and turbines, electrical insulating materials, the carrier for a high-voltage lines. Materials for Nuclear Power - non-combustible insulation and construction materials. Basalt is also a good anti-radiation protection material.
- Electronics industry - reinforcing material for the production of circuit boards, electrical insulation materials, construction materials of electronic equipment.
- Chemical and petrochemical industry - production of chemical-resistant pipes, protective coatings, storage tanks for corrosive liquids, acids, alkalis, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, toxic substances. Filters for cleaning the exhaust gases from dust and industrial waste water. Pipes for oil pipelines. Fire-resistant composite materials.
- Metallurgy industry - heat-insulating materials of thermal equipment, regeneration bath, piping. Filters for cleaning exhaust gases from dust at the mineral processing and metallurgical plants, filters for water treatment. Grid for filtering molten metals.
- Cryogenic equipment - composite and insulation materials at the liquefied gases and liquid oxygen production, etc.
- Production of construction materials - building construction and facing, reinforcing plaster mesh, waterproofing materials for roofs and underground structures, reinforcing mesh for cut-off wheels, basalt rebar, construction materials that ensure the seismic resistance of buildings, fire resistant materials for the construction of high buildings and critical facilities, basalt rebar for bridges and tunnels, railway sleepers and subway construction.
- Hydraulic engineering - reinforcing materials for the dams construction, land irrigation material. Construction of port facilities, offshore platforms - reinforcing and structural materials of basalt.
- Agriculture - mesh for soil strengthening, containers for storage and transportation of chemical liquids: fertilizers and pesticides.
- Public service - Composite materials and products, materials for waste water filters, treatment plants, large-diameter pipes for water supply and waste water.
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