Basalt fiber reinforced polymers with improved thermal and mechanical properties by combination of twin polymerization with epoxide chemistry

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) require a good match of fiber reinforcement and polymer matrix facilitating excellent thermal and mechanical properties. This contribution combines the mineral fibers glass and basalt with a novel silicatic hybrid polymer matrix formed during twin polymerization of 2‐(3‐Amino‐n‐propyl)‐2‐methyl‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxasiline (APSI) as a novel amine hardener and the bisphenol A‐based epoxide BADGE. The resulting ternary hybrid material consists of a nanostructured and crosslinked epoxide, phenolic resin and polydialkylsiloxane network. In comparison to conventionally cured BADGE with IPDA (isophorone diamine), the glass and basalt fiber reinforced twin polymers showed a retarded combustion with a higher residual mass after oxidation. Moreover, the reinforcing effect with glass respective basalt was pronounced in case of APSI cured BADGE. The increased inorganic ratio in the composites due to in situ formation of polysiloxane species seems to affect beneficially FRPs thermal and mechanical properties by increasing the stiffness by 25% and the storage modulus by 260%. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3115–3121, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers