Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Strength Properties of Basalt Composites

The problem of improving the strength properties of polymer composite materials based of roving made of basalt complex filaments and epoxy resin as a binder was considered. The main objective of the research is to analyze the physical and mechanical characteristics of basalt composites, as well as the possibilities of their modification by embedding the multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the effect of gamma radiation at different doses. The experimental results for both the pure binder and the basalt composite were presented. It was concluded that the complex modification based on gamma irradiation and embedding the multiwalled carbon nanotubes increases more than 20% the compressive strength on the specimens made of EDT-10P epoxy binder. The strength and elastic modulus investigations carried out on the ring specimens made of basalt composite, subjected to nanomodification and gamma irradiation, showed in increase in the strength characteristics at certain radiation doses within 10-15%. Hypotheses, explaining the strengthening effect associated with changes in the intermolecular interactions under an action of gamma-quantum flux were proposed.