What is Basalt Fiber?

Basalt fiber is a fabric made from basalt roving or yarn. It is produced with different thickness, width, weight and weaving pattern according to the usage areas. Manufactured from polypropylene fiber and basalt, this material is used to add to structural applications. It therefore has durable and strong properties. It is preferred in various applications as it is used for general and special purposes.

Two products stand out among these fiber reinforcements. Basalt single-ended roving is the first and is produced from continuous, uninterrupted fibers. This product is used in composite applications, corrosion resistant applications, concrete and polymer mixtures. The other product is basalt fiber trimming and is used by cutting in 3-4.5-6-12 and 25 mm lengths. Suitable for concrete and epoxy resin reinforcement. Produced in 13 or 17 micron fiber thicknesses, suitable for BMC pulp production. With these properties, it is used for functional and structural applications.

Properties of Basalt Fiber

This fiber is a material made of polypropylene fiber and basalt and has various properties. We can classify their properties as general, physical and chemical stability. Thanks to its features, it is selected according to the areas of use. Other general, physical and chemical stability properties of this fiber are:

Its raw material is found as volcanic eruptive rock.
It has chemical and inherent thermal stability. It is therefore not a risk factor for health.
Operating temperature is -296 to 700 degrees.
The bond temperature is 1050 degrees.
Its thermal conductivity is 0.03~0.038 degrees.
Filament diameter is 7~15.
Its density is 2650.
The coefficient of elasticity is 10,000 ~ 11,000.
Chemical stability properties are 2N HCl 2.2%, 2N NaOH 6.0% and H2O 0.2%. These properties suggest that it is not harmful to health.
It is a high modulus and strength fiber.
Suitable for ballistic applications due to its high level of shock resistance.
Due to its low cost and durability, it can be preferred over carbon fiber in many applications.
High temperature resistance.
It has good light resistance.
It is an environmentally friendly product as it is made from natural yarn and can be recycled.
It is harmless to health and is a safe material.
Good fatigue and corrosion resistance.
Unsaturated polyester, vinylester, epoxy, phenolic, etc. compatible with resin and therefore used in different applications.
It has better chemical resistance than E-glass.
Easy to use and easy to process.

Basalt Fiber Usage Areas

Basalt fiber is a material that works well in various fields of use. While it had a more limited area of use in the past, today its area of use has expanded with the development of technology and industrial fields.

In cases where basalt fiber is to be used, it must be cut long. Other uses include cutting into mixed monofilaments and staple fiber groups. Fibers cut in these ways will meet expectations. The usage features can be explained as follows:

It reduces shrinkage cracks by 90% and shrinkage cracks by 50%.
Increases fatigue resistance by more than 500%.
More than 35% increase in frost resistance and 35% increase in flexural and tensile strength.
It stands out with 90% reduction in corner fractures.
Increases water resistance to over 50%.

Advantages of Basalt Fiber

This fiber provides many advantages in the areas where it is used. Its characteristics bring out these advantages. In general, the advantages of this fiber are as follows:

Thanks to its high temperature resistance, it can be used in applications with high temperatures.
Since it is produced from basalt raw material, it has higher strength than synthetic fiber types. This ensures the production of durable and long-lasting products.
It is lightweight due to its low density and this feature saves energy when used in vehicles.
Since it has high chemical resistance, it can be easily used in areas where chemical products are abundant.
It is an environmentally friendly product thanks to its fiber content. This ensures energy efficiency in the areas where it is used.

Applications by Sector

This fiber has become one of the indispensable materials in certain sectors due to its properties and some of the advantages it provides. It is mostly preferred in the construction sector. In general, the applications of this fiber according to the sectors are as follows:

Construction sector: This fiber, which stands out with its high strength feature, is widely used in construction. In this sector, it is used in building facade insulation, insulation wall, roof and ceiling applications.

Fire protection: This material has high heat resistance and is also used for fire protection. It is used in metal structures, buildings and historical buildings, making them resistant to fires.

Production of construction materials: It is not limited to applications in the construction industry, where it is most widely used. It also enables the production of various building materials. These materials include various materials such as prefabricated buildings, tunnels, suspended ceilings, sheet materials, fire doors, security walls.