Basalt fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composites

Short fiber (basalt, carbon, ceramic, and glass) reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites were investigated to determine their mechanical properties in case of different reinforcing fiber types. The composites were reinforced with fibers and were produced by hot pressing after hot mixing techniques. Composite properties such as flexural strength, stiffness, static and dynamic fracture toughness were measured. It was realized that the main damage modes of the composites are fiber pullout and debonding. It was also found that basalt fibers are the most sensitive to the lack of the treatment with additives. These results were supported by scanning electron micrographs taken of the fracture surfaces.