Tensile Properties of the Basalt Fiber/Vinyl Ester Resin Composites under Extreme Thermal Cycling Conditions

This paper presents a study on basalt fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin composites exposed to extreme thermal cycling conditions. The mechanical properties of basalt fiber surface mat, needle felt, and unidirectional fabric reinforced vinyl ester resin composites were evaluated, which were thermally cycled between the temperatures of 150ºC and −196ºC in a gaseous N₂ atmosphere for 6 and 12 cycles, respectively. No significant changes of the tensile strength and failure modes of BF/VE composites were observed under extreme thermal cycling conditions. The morphology of the composites after thermal cycling was characterized by SEM and FTIR, which indicated that the interior structure of basalt fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin composites was hardly changed after extreme thermal cycles. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the composite has satisfied mechanical property to meet applicability requirement under extreme thermal cycling conditions.