Enhanced Mechanical, Tribological, and Thermal Properties of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites via Soft–Rigid Interface Strategy in Marine Applications

Abstract

Basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (BF/Ep) with improved strength and wear resistance are in high demand for rapidly advancing marine industry. A new "soft–rigid" interface strategy, combining a silane coupling agent (APTES) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles at the molecular and nanoscale levels, is proposed to modify basalt fibers. This modification aims to enhance the degradation resistance, thermal stability, mechanical strength, and wear performance of the composites during extended seawater immersion. The study found that after 7 weeks of seawater exposure, the tensile strength, impact strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and flexural strength of the untreated composites dropped by 33.26%, 41.98%, 13.43%, and 30.76%, respectively, whereas for the treated composites, in contrast, those properties dropped by 19.6%, 21%, 6.32%, and 13.34%, respectively. Additionally, the modified composites showed a 47% decrease in water absorption and a 12.35% reduction in friction coefficient after the 7-week period. © ASM International 2025.