Fabrication and mechanical performance of 3D woven basalt fiber composite materials

Abstract

Three kinds differently structural 3D woven fabrics with the basalt fiber filaments tows as warp and weft yarn were fabricated on common loom by reasonable design. And, three kinds differently structural 3D woven basalt fiber composite materials were obtained with vinyl ester resin as matrix materials and 3D woven fabrics as reinforced materials, by VARTM molding process (vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process). Then, the tensile and bending properties of three kinds differently structural 3D woven basalt fiber composite materials were tested through the universal testing machine. Results were shown that the 3D woven basalt fiber composite materials had excellent mechanical properties, but the different structures of 3D woven fabrics as reinforced materials shown a big difference on mechanical properties. As follows, the modulus of elasticity for tensile and modulus of elasticity for bending of the 3D orthogonal structure basalt fiber composite materials were the greatest, and that of the 3D throughout angle interlocking structure basalt fiber composite materials was the smallest. Meanwhile, the tensile elongation at break of the 3D throughout angle interlocking structure basalt fiber composite materials were the largest and that of the 3D layered angle interlocking structure basalt fiber composite materials was the smallest.