Study of the Properties of Microwave Modified Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Polymer

To enhance the physicochemical and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced epoxy polymer (BFREP), various electrophysical methods, including microwave electromagnetic field processing, have been employed. This study establishes the efficacy and utility of using a microwave electromagnetic field to modify a basalt-filled epoxy oligomer under specific processing conditions (microwave power: 400 W; processing time: 24 s). Microwave processing results in a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of BFREP. The impact strength increases by 2.5 times, Brinell hardness by 78%, and transverse rupture stress by more than twice. The oxygen index and mass loss during ignition in air remain practically unchanged, with a slight increase in heat resistance (4.5%) for BFREP treated with the selected microwave electromagnetic field mode. Thermal stability analysis reveals an increase in coke residues and a shift of the destruction stage to higher temperatures for the microwave-treated basalt-filled epoxy polymer. The modified epoxy-based composites exhibit reduced water absorption and enhanced chemical resistance, indicating the formation of a denser and less defective structure. IR spectroscopy confirms the modifying effect of microwave processing on the interaction between the basalt filler and epoxy polymer. Thus, the microwave electromagnetic field has proven to be an effective technique for modifying the structure of basalt-filled epoxy oligomer. This modification approach significantly enhances the physicochemical and mechanical characteristics of the resulting polymer composite material.