Basalt fibers: An environmentally acceptable and sustainable green material for polymer composites

There has been a noticeable global trend in the usage of natural, ecologically conscious fibers as reinforcements in the production of inexpensive, lighter polymer composites. Specifically, the basalt natural fibers are the most intriguing due to their characteristics among the various types of natural fibers (i.e., plants, animals, or minerals) that could be utilized as reinforcement. In the composites sector, basalt fibers (BF) have garnered a lot of interest due to their exceptional mechanical and thermal capabilities, as well as their chemical stability. In comparison to carbon, glass, or other mineral fibers generally, the environmental effect of the entire complex of technical processes involved in generating and using basalt fibers is significantly lower. Within this framework, this suggested review seeks to investigate and analyze the behavior of basalt mineral materials in the forms of fiber, powder, and mats when it is reinforced with different polymer matrices. Additionally, this study discusses the basic methods of producing basalt fibers, their characteristics, composition, and the impact of surface treatment on the fibers. Further sections address the developments in 3D printing and its possible applications in a variety of industries, encompassing mechanical, thermal, tribology, and water absorption/wettability studies. It has been noted that for both structural and non-structural applications, basalt fibers are the most advantageous substitutes and prospective reinforcements in place of glass fibers. While the quantity of BF has a significant impact on mechanical durability and basalt-fiber reinforced composites' (BFRCs) performance over time, another important factor that affects how well BFRCs perform is fiber-matrix interaction. To enhance this fiber-matrix interaction, a variety of chemical treatments (acidic, basic, and plasma) on the basalt fiber are being reported by several studies. The primary drawback of this chemical treatment is that the basalt fiber is harmed by high acid or alkali concentrations. During the long-term chemical treatment, the corrosive layer thickness significantly increased, mostly due to the presence of SiO 2. The extant research clearly indicates that augmenting the volume fraction of basalt fibers improved the composite's capacity to endure impact and absorb energy. In many experiments, basalt fibers have demonstrated greater resistance to moisture conditions when compared to natural fibers derived from plants. Since the basalt is an extremely durable and rigid material, it may be used to make frictional materials to minimize wear and friction. However, increased mass manufacturing of basalt fibers will be necessary to fulfill demand before they can be widely used as reinforcing element for structural composites. This might also make basalt fibers more affordable than more conventional reinforcements like glass and carbon fibers.