Evaluating the Mechanical Behavior of Basalt Fibers/Epoxy Composites Containing Surface-modified CaCO3 Nanoparticles

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) owing to their outstanding properties such as high strength, low weight, high thermal stability and chemical resistance are broadly utilized in various industries. In the present work, the influence of silanized CaCO3 (S-CaCO3) with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) coupling agent at different values (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt.% with respect to the matrix) on the mechanical behavior of basalt fibers (BF)/epoxy composites was examined. BF-reinforced composites were fabricated via hand lay-up technique. Experimental results from three-point bending and tensile tests showed that with the dispersion of 3 wt.% S-CaCO3, flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength and tensile modulus enhanced by 28 %, 35 %, 20 % and 30 %, respectively. Microscopic examinations revealed that the development of the mechanical properties of fibrous composites with the incorporation of modified CaCO3 was related to enhancement in the load transfer between the nanocomposite matrix and BF as well as enhanced mechanical properties of the matrix part.