Exploring the hybrid effects of short glass/basalt fibers on the mechanical, thermal and gamma-radiation shielding properties of DCBA/BA-a resin composites

As the huge demands for advanced engineering materials with specific properties, this study aimed to fabricate novel lightweight materials possessing ameliorated characteristics. The novel hybrid composites were prepared by reinforcing both the bisphenol-A based dicyanate ester and benzoxazine (DCBA/BA-a) resin blends using silane-treated short glass/basalt hybrid fibers through a compression molding technique, and then experimentally characterised. Results from the mechanical and thermal analyses revealed that the mechanical and thermal parameters were highly improved upon increasing the reinforcing phases' amount. The shielding evaluations disclosed that the integration of hybrid fibers helped the DCBA/BA-a blend to possess excellent nuclear shielding properties.