Mechanical Properties of MiniBars™ Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites

Mechanical Properties of MiniBars™ Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites

2 January 2024 | Gabriel Furtos, Doina Prodan, Codruta Sarosi, Marioara Moldovan, Kinga Kornijenko, Leonard Miller, Lukáš Fiala, Nováková Iveta
This study investigates the mechanical properties of MiniBars™ basalt fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites (MiniBars™ FRBCs). MiniBars™, a high-performance basalt fiber composite, were incorporated into fly ash-based geopolymers at varying volumes (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75 vol.%). The geopolymers were prepared by mixing fly ash powder with Na2SiO3 and NaOH as alkaline activators. The MiniBars™ FRBCs were cured at 70 °C for 48 hours and tested for flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, tensile modulus, and force load at upper yield tensile strength. Optical microscopy and SEM were used to analyze the fillers and MiniBars™ FRBCs. The results showed that the mechanical properties of MiniBars™ FRBCs improved significantly with the addition of MiniBars™, with flexural strength increasing by 11.59–25.97 times, flexural modulus by 3.33–5.92 times, tensile strength by 3.50–8.03 times, tensile modulus by 1.12–1.30 times, and force load at upper yield tensile strength by 4.18–7.27 times compared to the geopolymer without MiniBars™. SEM and optical microscopy confirmed a good geopolymer network around MiniBars™, indicating effective reinforcement. These findings suggest that MiniBars™ FRBCs could be a promising green material for building applications, potentially replacing steel rods in geopolymers.This study investigates the mechanical properties of MiniBars™ basalt fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites (MiniBars™ FRBCs). MiniBars™, a high-performance basalt fiber composite, were incorporated into fly ash-based geopolymers at varying volumes (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75 vol.%). The geopolymers were prepared by mixing fly ash powder with Na2SiO3 and NaOH as alkaline activators. The MiniBars™ FRBCs were cured at 70 °C for 48 hours and tested for flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, tensile modulus, and force load at upper yield tensile strength. Optical microscopy and SEM were used to analyze the fillers and MiniBars™ FRBCs. The results showed that the mechanical properties of MiniBars™ FRBCs improved significantly with the addition of MiniBars™, with flexural strength increasing by 11.59–25.97 times, flexural modulus by 3.33–5.92 times, tensile strength by 3.50–8.03 times, tensile modulus by 1.12–1.30 times, and force load at upper yield tensile strength by 4.18–7.27 times compared to the geopolymer without MiniBars™. SEM and optical microscopy confirmed a good geopolymer network around MiniBars™, indicating effective reinforcement. These findings suggest that MiniBars™ FRBCs could be a promising green material for building applications, potentially replacing steel rods in geopolymers.
Reach us at info@study.space