Investigation of basalt/kevlar fiber-reinforced porcelain filler infused epoxy composite: A viable alternative for marine applications

Abstract

• Novel Hybrid Composite: A basalt/Kevlar fiber reinforced epoxy composite with porcelain fillers was developed, offering significant enhancements in mechanical properties for marine applications. • Improved Mechanical Properties: The composite showed significant increases in tensile strength (217.64 MPa), flexural strength (223.62 MPa), and impact strength (39 J) with the addition of 15g of porcelain fillers. • Low Water Absorption: The composite exhibited excellent water resistance with only 0.6% moisture uptake after 48 hours of immersion in saltwater, critical for marine environments. • High Fatigue Resistance: The composite retained 55% of its initial tensile strength after 30,000 cyclic loading cycles, indicating high durability under fluctuating loads. • Enhanced Microstructural Integrity: SEM and EDX analyses revealed improved interfacial bonding, minimal porosity, and the presence of porcelain fillers, contributing to the composite's stability and strength. This study investigates the mechanical properties, water absorption capacity, fatigue strength, and microstructural characteristics of a hybrid composite reinforced with basalt and Kevlar fibers and porcelain fillers blended epoxy matrix, designed for marine applications. The composite was fabricated using a hand lay-up technique was used to achieve a uniform distribution of fibers and fillers. Mechanical testing revealed significant improvements in tensile strength (217.64 MPa), flexural strength (223.62 MPa), and impact strength (39 J), particularly with the addition of 15g of porcelain fillers, compared to pure polymer matrices. The presence of porcelain fillers enhanced the interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix, leading to a synergistic reinforcement effect that improved the composite's mechanical properties. Water absorption tests indicated minimal moisture uptake (0.6%) after 48 hours of immersion in saltwater, demonstrating excellent resistance to water, a critical property for marine environments. Fatigue testing under 30,000 cyclic loading cycles revealed that the composite retained 55% of its initial tensile strength, indicating high durability under fluctuating loads. The SEM and EDX analyses were conducted to examine the microstructural characteristics of the composite. SEM results showed improved interfacial bonding and minimal porosity, while EDX confirmed the presence of porcelain fillers, which contribute to the composite's enhanced stability and strength. These findings suggest that the incorporation of porcelain fillers into a basalt/Kevlar hybrid matrix results in a composite with superior mechanical properties, low water absorption, and excellent fatigue resistance, making it a potential material for marine applications.

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