Thermal stability and physical properties of epoxy composite reinforced with silane treated basalt fiber

This study evaluates the influence of different silane coupling agents on the thermal and physical properties of epoxy-anhydride composite reinforced with basalt fiber. The silane coupling agents were selected by their functional groups so that they could have different chemical interactions with the epoxy and anhydride curing agents. The thermal and degradation behavior of the composites with different fiber contents were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Through the evaluation of Tg and thermal degradation behavior of both systems, it was deduced that the silane coupling agents have a great influence on the thermal properties of the composites as well as interfacial improvement. Also, the tensile properties of the composites were systematically evaluated in order to further understand the effect of silane coupling agents on the interaction with basalt fiber and epoxy matrix.