Comparative assessment of mechanical properties of glass and basalt fibers reinforced polyester resin with St3S steel
Arkadiusz Rudawski, Stanisław Błażewicz
Quarterly No. 2, 2014 pages 86-90
DOI:
keywords: glass fiber, basalt fiber, polyester resin, St3S steel, mechanical properties, flexural strength
abstract The aim of the study was to develop a laminate composite that can be an analog for St3S steel in the case of corrosion problems and excessive product weight. E-glass fibers in the form of mats and fabrics with different reinforcement direction, unsaturated polyester resins, and basalt woven fabrics with a grammature of 180 g/m2 were used in the study. Polyester laminate composites of 300x200 mm were manufactured using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding method. The mechanical properties of the laminate composites in the form of plates were compared with the mechanical properties of the St3S steel serving as a reference material. Selected glass fiber-reinforced polyester composites with the best mechanical properties were additionally modified with basalt fabric. The flexural strength, elasticity modulus and work up to fracture were determined in the three-point bending mode. The values of the mechanical parameters of the composite samples were compared with the mechanical properties of St3S steel. The highest elasticity modulus of the laminate samples was found for the composite reinforced with a unidirectional glass fabric, while the maximum flexural strength was attained by the composite samples reinforced with three and four directional fibrous reinforcement. Their differences amount to several percent. The composite samples representing the best strength properties were further modified using a fabric made from basalt fibers. The use of hybrid fiber reinforcements (glass fiber, basalt fiber) allows for an over 20% increase in the flexural strength of the composite samples. Comparable strength characteristics to the steel samples were achieved. The flexural strength of the hybrid composite samples was 415 MPa, and 429 MPa for the St3S sample. The hybrid laminate composite with basalt woven fabric has a distinctly higher work up to fracture value in comparison with the unmodified laminate composite related to the same cross section unit.