Basalt Flake-Epoxy Resin Nacre-Inspired Bulk Composite Fabricated by Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion Molding Technique

Abstract

Nacre-inspired composites possesses remarkable strength and toughness. Basalt flakes constitute new environmentally friendly tablet materials that can be fabricated into nacre-inspired composites. This work fabricated a basalt flake/epoxy resin nacre-inspired bulk composite via a two-step process, utilizing vacuum-assisted filtration for scaffold assembly and vacuum-assisted resin infusion molding technique for resin infusion. The cross-sectional morphologies of the sample demonstrated the epoxy resin can effectively fill the basalt flake scaffold, and there are voids distributed evenly within the sample. Mechanical tests exhibited the sample had a considerable flexural strength of 87.1 Mpa and good fracture toughness of 4.28 MPa·m1/2. This work exhibits the application of basalt flakes in the field of composite materials and the feasibility of using vacuum-assisted resin infusion molding technique to fabricate inorganic-organic nacre-inspired composites, further enabling the combination of nacre-inspired composite and FRP to create more possibilities.

Keywords: Basalt Flake, Nacre-inspired Material, Biomimetic Material, Flexural Strength, Fracture Toughness